For all the beauty of ball movement and multiple team contributors, nothing gets the Bay area going like a memorable, record-breaking night from Stephen Curry. Warriors fans got that to kick off their week.
That’s what the fans at Chase Center, and millions on tv around the world, were fortunate enough to witness as Curry exploded from a mini form slump with 50 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals to lead the Warriors to a 127-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
The Dubs again used the third quarter as a means to virtually end the game. The Warriors closed the third on a 13-0 run in the final two minutes of the quarter.
It looked like Curry’s game from the outset, a pair of threes and a put-back layup signaling his intentions within the first two minutes of the ball game. But after jumping out to an early 10-3 lead, the Warriors looked like the inferior team for much of the first half.
Trae Young did his best to match Curry in the early part on his way to 28 points and 9 assists on the night. By midway through the second, he and the Hawks had seized control of the contest as they extended out to a 15 point lead.
The Warriors arrested the momentum and drew to within four at the half, before taking the lead early in the third.
The Hawks efforts to quell Curry’s influence seemed to take its toll and eventually wear them down, his dominance offensively not confined to his own scoring but also getting teammates involved.
The Dubs stretched their lead to over 20 a couple of times in the fourth, the 14 point margin at the end being the closest the Hawks got after the Warriors blitz to end the third.