Golden State star Stephen Curry scored 49 points, including the game-winning free throws in the final seconds, as the Warriors beat the San Antonio Spurs 109-108 in the NBA Cup on Friday (all-time US).
For the second time in three days, Curry propelled the Warriors to a victory over Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs, following up a 46-point performance on Wednesday with another masterpiece.
Curry connected on 16 of 26 shots from the field, hitting nine three-pointers and finishing a perfect 8 of 8 from the free throw line as the Warriors prevailed in a tense Texas battle that included 13 lead changes.
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French star Wembanyama scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and De’Aaron Fox added 24 points and 10 assists for the Spurs, who led 79-77 at the start of the fourth quarter only to be undone by 14 points from Curry, 37, in the final quarter.
“Curry led the way with 49 in a masterpiece for him – another one!” exclaimed commentator Kevin Harlan after the match. “Just sparkling.”
His colleague Brent Barry added: “It feels like the Warriors just stole a game. »
With this, Curry tied Michael Jordan’s record for most games with 40 points (44) since he was 30.
Wembanyama, who showed nerves with Draymond Green after beating him in the fourth, scored 10 in the final period, with his layup putting San Antonio ahead 108-105 with 1:05 left.
Golden State’s Jimmy Butler made a layup to cut the deficit to one and after Wembanyama blocked a Butler shot, Fox fouled Curry, who calmly stepped up and made the decisive free throws.
Curry said the two “brave, gutsy professional wins” in San Antonio could set the tone for a Warriors team trying to find its identity.
“It was fun,” he said. “They have a great team. To come here and win back-to-back games is huge.
“We all did it together,” Curry said. “I know the points look good, but we all did it together to win. That’s what we’re trying to build on.”
Friday marked the third night of group play in the league’s season tournament, now in its third year this year.
The teams were divided into six groups for round-robin matches which also count towards the regular season standings.
Eight teams advance to the Cup quarterfinals, with the semifinals and final taking place in Las Vegas in December.
LAKERS RESPOND TO OKC BEATDOWN
In New Orleans, the Los Angeles Lakers improved to 2-0 in Cup play by rebounding from a blowout loss in Oklahoma City with a 118-104 victory over the Pelicans.
Austin Reaves scored 31 points, Luka Doncic added 24 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists and Deandre Ayton scored 20 points on an impressive 10-of-11 shooting for Los Angeles, who are still awaiting the season debut of superstar LeBron James.
“After the miss we had in Oklahoma City, you have to bounce back with a win,” Reaves said. “I thought we played pretty well tonight. We obviously have to clean up some things, but pretty good.” Veteran James Harden had a 41-point triple-double to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 133-127 double-overtime triumph over the Mavericks in Dallas.
Harden, 36, played a career-high 51 minutes and scored 10 points in the two overtime periods as the Clippers held on to end a six-game skid.
THE PISTONS WIN A NINTH STRAIGHT
The injury-depleted Detroit Pistons earned their ninth straight victory, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 114-105.
The Pistons extended their streak despite missing key contributors Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren.
Javonte Green led Detroit with 21 points and nine rebounds. Daniss Jenkins added 19 points as six Pistons players scored in double figures.
In New York, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 39 points and Landry Shamet added a career-high 36 points coming off the bench as the short-handed Knicks beat the Miami Heat 140-132.
The Knicks were already without star Jalen Brunson and lost OG forward Anunoby in the first quarter to a hamstring strain.
But Jordan Clarkson added 24 points coming off the bench and fellow teammate Josh Hart had a triple-double of 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Knicks held off a 38-point performance from Miami’s Norman Powell.
Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game injury absence to deliver 25 points, seven rebounds and 18 assists as the Bucks outlasted the Charlotte Hornets 147-134 in overtime.
Kyle Kuzma scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Bucks, who had seven players score in double figures
ALL RESULTS
Heat 132 Knicks 140
Nets 98 Magic 105
76ers 105 Pistons 114
Pioneers 116 Rockets 140
Hornets 134 $147 (OT)
Kings 110 Timber wolves 124
Lakers 118 Pelicans 104
Mowers 133 Mavericks 127 (overtime)
Warriors 109 Spurs 108
