Stephen Curry’s clutch performance showcases his sheer brilliance

What Stephen Curry did for the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night in front of a packed Chase Center was not new. He’d done it before, and it was just another day at the office.

And before we delve into his blitzkrieg performance, here’s a hint of his genius: At the end of what seemed a torrid third quarter, Curry made a hook shot that didn’t count…. from out bounds.

The Golden State Warriors might be 2-0, but they might have as well been 1-1 if not for Stephen Curry’s brilliance

After the Warriors turned the ball over with 3.1 seconds remaining, he dribbled all the way close to the bench and tossed a hook shot. It didn’t count. But it sparked what would be one of the most widely-discussed performances of the first week of NBA 2021-22.

For those who watched him execute that clutch plays to perfection, it’s a thing of awe, a piece of art that can only be marveled at, it’s one of the things kids dream about. Defining what Curry did is difficult, you had to be there to witness it.

He exploded with 45 points, 10 rebounds, and an assist. It all started when he sunk the first 3 with a shoulder fake, and followed it up with a 25-point showing in the first quarter.

It didn’t end there.

It also meant that his earlier in the week triple-double outing against the Los Angeles Lakers which he famously called ‘trash’ could now be safely binned. It was a perfect quarter as he nailed 9-of-9 from the field, 5-of-5 from 3-point range.

If he looked like he had cooled off in the second quarter, making just three points, he erupted in the second half with the Clippers matching the Warrior’s shot for shot. Jordan Poole wasn’t his usual self and that means the onus was on Curry to deliver.

And deliver he did as he sunk two 3s as the final minutes of the game closed down. His performance felt more electric thanks to a raucous home crowd. The mouth-guard nibbler just did what he does best — and this is certainly not his last.

It wasn’t that the Warriors had a perfect game. The turnovers were a glaring error. There were 17 against the Lakers, and it was 21 against the Clippers. Curry and Poole were responsible for six or more of them each.

The passing and ball-handling, which was one of the highlights in the first game were sloppy in the second. There were moments where it could either be called lazy or just plain reckless.

But then, Stephen Curry happened.

His brilliance and experience came to the fore at the opportune moment.

This performance just falls into the long list of impeccable plays he’s had over the years, it’s just that doing in front of a crowd who were notable absentees for a year makes it that much more special.