Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors
Getty
Steph Curry has led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA championships.
The Golden State Warriors defeated the New York Knicks 126-113 on Thursday night at Chase Center.
Stephen Curry delivered 27 points, seven assists, and three rebounds in 34 minutes. He shot 10-of-17 from the field and knocked down four threes. It was a vintage performance from the Warriors’ star, one that helped Golden State improve to 23-19 and push four games over .500 for the first time this season.
But after the game, Curry was limping in the tunnels.
According to Anthony Slater of ESPN, Curry was in pain postgame and revealed he had been playing through a quad contusion. The injury did not appear to affect his play during the game, but the fact that he was visibly uncomfortable afterward raises questions about his availability moving forward.
Golden State hosts the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Curry’s status will be worth monitoring over the next 48 hours.
Anthony Slater
Steph Curry was in some pain and limping in the tunnels postgame. Played through it but told me it was a quad contusion.
Stephen Curry Bounced Back From Rough Shooting Stretch
Steph Curry
GettySteph Curry of the Golden State Warriors is a four-time NBA champion.
Curry’s performance against the Knicks was a return to form after a frustrating two-game stretch.
He had gone just 5-of-19 from three-point range over his previous two games. Thursday night, he finished 4-of-9 from deep and looked comfortable again from distance.
Curry struggled in the first half, missing all five of his three-point attempts. But he came out firing in the third quarter. He drained back-to-back threes to push the Warriors’ lead to eight, then followed with a steal that led to a Moses Moody triple that extended the advantage to 11.
Curry scored 10 points in nine third-quarter minutes on 4-of-4 shooting, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. That stretch shifted the momentum and allowed Golden State to pull away from a Knicks team that had kept things competitive through the first half.
Jimmy Butler Carried the Load Early
The Warriors fell behind early, trailing 33-19 late in the first quarter.
Curry went to the bench, and Jimmy Butler checked in. Butler immediately steadied the offense. Golden State closed the quarter on an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to five, and Butler was the driving force behind that surge.
Butler finished with a game-high 32 points on 14-of-22 shooting. He added eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and zero turnovers. He was plus-15 for the game.
Butler has been excellent all season, but his recent stretch has been particularly impressive. Over his last four games, he has averaged 23.3 points on 60.3% shooting with 5.3 assists and just one turnover per game. He has been a cumulative plus-47 during that span.
At 36 years old, Butler is on pace to play 72 games this season, which would be his highest total since 2016-17. Rather than slowing down, he has been playing some of the best basketball of his career.
Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski Stepped Up
Moody has struggled with his shot over the past month.
He entered Thursday shooting just 30.1% from three over a 15-game stretch from December 12 to January 11. Head coach Steve Kerr stuck with him in the starting lineup, and that patience paid off against the Knicks.
Moody scored 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 7-of-9 from three-point range. He knocked down four triples in the first half without a miss and carried that confidence into the second half.
His role is clear. He provides point-of-attack defense and serves as the designated catch-and-shoot wing. The offense gains another dimension when his shot is falling, and Thursday was a reminder of what he can provide when he is locked in.
Brandin Podziemski also delivered a strong performance off the bench.
Podziemski finished with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three. He added five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 26 minutes. He was a team-best plus-22.
After a slow start to the season, Podziemski has been more productive over the last two months. He averaged 12.7 points per game in December while shooting 51.7% from the field and 44.4% from three. His play has leveled off in January, but Thursday’s performance showed he can still be a valuable contributor when his shot is falling.
What the Win Means for the Warriors
The Warriors improved to 23-19 with the victory, marking the first time this season they have been four games over .500.
Golden State went 20-of-45 from three-point range, outscoring the Knicks by 18 points from beyond the arc. That shooting performance, combined with strong contributions from Butler, Curry, Moody, and Podziemski, allowed the Warriors to pull away in the second half and control the game down the stretch.
The Knicks played without Jalen Brunson and were coming off a loss to the Sacramento Kings just 21 hours earlier. Golden State took advantage of a tired opponent and avoided letting the game slip away after falling behind early.
But the focus now shifts to Curry’s health.
The quad contusion did not prevent him from playing Thursday, but the fact that he was limping postgame suggests the injury is more than minor discomfort. Saturday’s game against Charlotte will provide more clarity on whether Curry needs rest or can continue playing through the issue.
Final Word for the Warriors
Stephen Curry played through a quad contusion and delivered a strong performance against the Knicks.
But the injury is worth monitoring. Golden State needs Curry healthy if they are going to make any meaningful push in the second half of the season. Losing him for any extended period would make an already inconsistent team even more unpredictable.
The Warriors host Charlotte on Saturday. Curry’s status will be announced closer to tip-off, but after limping through the tunnels postgame, there is reason to be cautious about his availability.