OKLAHOMA CITY • Stephen Curry keeps finding new ways to come up with game-winning daggers, nailing a three-pointer in the dying seconds to lift the Golden State Warriors to a 121-118 overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He not only hit a 32-foot three-pointer with six-tenths of a second left on Saturday; he also tied a National Basketball Association (NBA) single-game record shared by Donyell Marshall and Kobe Bryant with 12 three-pointers.
"I got a good rhythm dribbling up and found a good spot to take off from," said the guard. "I had confidence all night. Thankfully that last one went in when we had a chance to win the game."
The records keep coming as Curry's 12th three-pointer pushed his total to 288, breaking his own single-season record of 286 with 24 games to play.
"It was incredible what Steph did. What is the expression? From the ridiculous to the sublime. That is where we are at this point," said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Curry finished 12-of-16 from behind the arc as the Warriors secured a play-off spot. They became the first team since the 1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers to clinch a post-season spot in February.
Curry, who tweaked an ankle in the third quarter, tallied 46 points and guard Klay Thompson added 32 for the Warriors (53-5). Curry went to the dressing room, got his ankle re-taped and returned.
Forward Kevin Durant had 37 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Thunder (41-18). Guard Russell Westbrook tallied 30 points, with 13 assists and seven rebounds.
"I always want to win," Durant said. "Moral victories are for young teams."
The Thunder scored five quick points to start overtime, but four straight points from Curry got the Warriors to within one.
Both teams kept finding ways to answer. Westbrook set up Andre Roberson for a lay-up. Then Thompson drove hard and scored on a three-point play to tie the score 118-118 with 29 seconds left.
Westbrook missed a jump shot, thereby setting the stage for Curry to hit another heroic winner.
"No way," tweeted Dallas Mavericks forward and 13-time NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.
New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis was also in a state of disbelief, tweeting: "Is this real life?"
Perhaps the biggest compliment came from Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James.
"@StephenCurry30 needs to stop it man!! He's ridiculous man! Never before seen someone like him in the history of ball!" tweeted the two-time NBA champion.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
