Curry Powers Warriors to Nail-Biting 109-108 Victory Against Spurs

Post by : Mara Rahim

In a gripping encounter on Friday, the Golden State Warriors edged past the San Antonio Spurs with a score of 109-108 in the NBA Cup, led by an exceptional display from Stephen Curry. Hitting 49 points, including 31 in a riveting second half, Curry bested Spurs rookie phenomenon Victor Wembanyama in a captivating face-off. His decisive free throws with just six seconds remaining capped off the Warriors' inaugural victory in the NBA Cup.

Victor Wembanyama registered a commendable 26 points, along with 12 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks over 38 minutes. However, despite this impressive effort, the Spurs fell short, marking their record as 1-1 in the prestigious tournament after a tightly contested game that highlighted the talent and tenacity from both squads. Curry’s performance also marked his season high, achieving a shooting accuracy of 16 of 26 and hitting 9 of 17 from beyond the arc, tying him with Michael Jordan for the most 40-point games (44) post-30 years old in NBA history.

Having swept the two-game series in San Antonio, the Warriors showed their mettle by rallying in the final quarter of both contests. Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that the back-to-back matches had the intensity of playoff games, reflecting the fast-paced and fiercely contested nature of the rivalry.

The closing moments of Friday’s match were charged with tension, as officials intervened to separate Draymond Green and Wembanyama multiple times while competing for position during an inbound play. Wembanyama did execute an alley-oop dunk over Green, but it was nullified by an earlier foul from Green. Shortly after, Green fouled out and expressed his frustration vocally as he exited the game.

In the dying seconds, Wembanyama thwarted a layup attempt from Jimmy Butler, keeping the Spurs ahead 108-107 with 33 seconds remaining. Yet, San Antonio couldn’t take advantage as De’Aaron Fox missed a 17-foot shot with 12 seconds on the clock. Curry, fouled by Fox moments later, displayed calmness under pressure by sinking both free throws, putting the Warriors one point in front. Fox then missed another jumper as time expired, clinching the win for Golden State.

Contributors for the Warriors included Jimmy Butler, who added 21 points, while Brandin Podziemski and Will Richard chipped in 10 points each. De’Aaron Fox led the Spurs with a solid 24 points and 10 assists, while Julian Champagnie supported Wembanyama with 14 points.

The Warriors will face the New Orleans Pelicans next, while the Spurs are set to host the Sacramento Kings on the same day. This victory underscores the Warriors’ resilience, with Curry’s brilliance once again shining through, affirming his status as one of basketball’s all-time greats.