Masterfully, Stephen Curry (49 points) once again beat the Spurs to the post!

After the first minutes were full on both sides, seven points in a row by Stephen Curry put the Warriors ahead (18-11). De’Aaron Fox and Victor Vembanyama then took advantage of the two-time MVP’s exit to end the first quarter on a 9-0 run (20-11).

Two defenses, however, continue to dominate the debate. It took heavy baskets by Jimmy Butler and Will Richard on one end, and Fox on the other, to break the deadlock. Stephen Curry’s three-pointer then gives the Warriors an eight-point advantage, but the Spurs end the half again, this time thanks to Devin Vassell, and at the break Golden State is only two steps ahead (47-45).

San Antonio vs. Stephen Curry

After returning from the locker room, San Antonio took matters into their own hands. Wemby, Fox and Julian Champagne take advantage of the turnovers of the opposing team to bring the Spurs to +6 (62-56). Mitch Johnson’s men made 4 of 8 from distance in that period, but Stephen Curry imitated them. The Warriors star caught fire in this third quarter: he scored 17 of his team’s 30 points to keep them in touch with the Texans (79-77).

As Curry hits, the Spurs take advantage again. The skill of Champagne and Harrison Barnes, as well as the defense of Victor Vembanyama, allowed them to start the final period with a 13-5 lead and take a 10-point lead (92-82)! Steve Kerr then revives his maestro and he continues his festival to get his team back into the match.

The boss takes on the alien

He scored eight points in a row as soon as he returned to the game to revive the Warriors, but Jeremy Sochan and Wemby struck from distance to delay the visitors’ comeback. At the best moment, Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski found the target for three points, each twice, to support Curry, and a 9-0 run gave the advantage back to Golden State (101-100)!

With less than four minutes remaining, De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama answered. The Spurs repeatedly take three-point leads and, as Stephon Castle boxes out Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler go for points near the circle. While Curry and Butler have a two-on-one against Wembey to get back in front, the latter swallows the former Miami star’s layup with a monumental fourth-down block.

However, Spurs do not benefit from it. Stephen Curry, smart, goes for two free throws with six seconds to play and does not tremble to give his team a point in advance (109-108). With match point, the Spurs opt to take a step back from De’Aaron Fox instead of giving the ball to Victor Wembanyama. The leader, although excellent on the night, misses the attempt and Golden State wins at the end of the suspense to get their first victory in this NBA Cup.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– Stephen Curry equals Michael Jordan. With 49 points, Stephen Curry tied His Majesty Michael Jordan for the most games with 40 or more points (44) by a player over the age of 30. The Warriors star carried his team throughout the game, especially in the second half, where he scored 31 of his 49 points. He had a glint in his eye that was unmistakable. Boisterous and brashly efficient, Curry fired up the crowd throughout the game, even asking them to make more noise between the two free throws that gave Golden State the win. At 37, Stephen Curry is at the top of his game.

– Victor Vembanyama replied. Faced with Draymond Green who pushed him to his limits physically and mentally, Wemby did not give up on one of the best defenders and agitators of the last fifteen years. Despite a slow start, the Frenchman scored 10 of his 26 points in the final quarter to put his team ahead and answer Stephen Curry. We saw him make a furious dunk on Draymond Green and set up a sensational counter on Jimmy Butler. Despite all his efforts, he could not avoid defeating his team at the wire.

– Everything in the group of death remains to be done. The five teams in Group C — Houston, Denver, San Antonio, Portland and Golden State — have played two games in this NBA Cup, and all are tied with a win and a loss. While the Spurs and Warriors gave us a glorious mano a mano, the Rockets easily beat the Blazers to cure their scoring average.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.