Stephen Curry’s late acquisition pushes the Warriors past the Mavericks

SAN FRANCISCO – Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry eyed Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II as the game clock ticked nearly 30 seconds.

He danced to the top of the 3-point line, created just enough space for a shot and fired it. When the bucket went in, Curry ran back and did his signature “Night Night” celebration before shoving Buddy Hield in the chest.

But Curry didn’t stop there. He walked toward the crowd, grabbed his jersey that proudly read “Golden State” and shouted into a television camera.

Immediately after the game, Curry said he couldn’t remember what words came out of his mouth. But after watching the play again, Curry told ESPN, “You better stay here.”

A smile crossed his face as he remembered.

“That kind of moment with all that fear, that was pure emotion,” Curry said.

That was the dagger that lifted the Warriors over the Mavericks 120-117 on Tuesday night, in Klay Thompson’s first game back since leaving Golden State in the summer after 13 years with the franchise.

“When you see him feeling like that, everyone else just adjusts,” Draymond Green said of Curry. “I’m trying to be a leader in this category. But when he’s up like that, I just step aside and let him do his thing and then support him.”

Curry scored 23 of his season-high 37 points in the second half. He scored all 12 points of the fourth quarter in the final four minutes, erasing a six-point deficit in a game the Warriors ultimately won by three points.

“Good job, Steph,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said when asked what he thought while watching Curry’s excitement. “I’ve been watching this for a long time and it never gets old. It’s incredible to watch him.

With 2:40 left, Green released a screen to free Curry from Luka Doncic’s side. Daniel Gafford tried to overtake him, but it was too late; Curry knocked down the 28-foot 3-pointer.

Seventy seconds later, Curry drove in and hit a scoop runner. Then, with 25 seconds left, came the 3 that triggered the “night-night” gesture. With the Warriors only up by three, Curry admitted it was risky to stop the celebration at that moment.

“I almost pulled a Si Woo Kim,” Curry said, referring to the golfer who used the taunt on the 16th hole during the Presidents Cup golf tournament.

On the next play, Dallas’ Quentin Grimes hit a 3 against Curry, making the game a one-point game with 20 seconds left.

“It was a little premature, but luckily I’m still undefeated on ‘Night Night,'” Curry said.

Curry finished the night 14 of 27 from the floor, including 5 of 12 from 3. He also recorded nine rebounds and two steals.

The Warriors controlled the game best in the first and third quarters, when they felt like they were speeding up and eventually rushing their decisions. To be more decisive, the Warriors relied more on pick-and-rolls down the stretch, either trying to drag Lively outside to then score in the zone, find kick-out shots, or pull-up threes to do when they presented themselves.

“I think we should have protected him better,” Doncic said. “But it’s Steph Curry, so sometimes there’s nothing you can do.”

“It hurts to be on the other side of one of his turmoils,” Thompson added. “The guy got hot at the end and took some ridiculous shots. I know I was on the other end and it sucks.”