Stephen Curry scored 17 of his 41 points in the final seven minutes of a 126-119 overtime win over the Orlando Magic at Chase Center, setting a late-career NBA record.
The Saturday night victory marks Curry’s second 40-point game in the season’s first month and the 77th of his 18-year career. Most impressively, it stands as his 16th 40-point performance since turning 35, breaking a tie with LeBron James at 15 and Michael Jordan at 12 for the most in league history.
Warriors Extend Win Streak After Slow Start
- The Warriors’ reliance on rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and center Charles Bassey during stretches highlights contributions from secondary bench options while Golden State manages rotation minutes.
- Golden State’s seven-game win streak continues their rise back into the conversation after their initial 0-3 start to the season.
Curry Scores Late Points to Overcome Magic
The Warriors needed every bit of Curry’s late-game brilliance against a desperate 2-7 Magic squad. Orlando erased a 16-point first-half deficit to capture a six-point lead in the fourth quarter, forcing Curry to manufacture tough possessions down the stretch. He poured in 12 points across the final 2:21 of regulation, hitting two deep 3-pointers, a layup, two free throws, and a difficult runner with 25 seconds remaining to put Golden State ahead by two.
That was an impossible shot,
Kerr said regarding Curry’s 12-foot running float-hook through heavy traffic. So much traffic. That was a 12-foot sort of running, float, hook, whatever you call it. To put that off the glass, he’s one of one. I don’t know if anyone else in the world can make that shot.
Jamal Cain ruined the regulation finish for the hosts by tipping in a layup with two seconds left to knot the score at 119 and force the extra session.
Bench Players Lead Warriors in Overtime Surge
Kerr opted to start overtime by resting his veteran star to protect his minutes, deploying the bench instead. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg finished with 23 points, while backup center Charles Bassey opened the extra period with four quick points. Lendeborg followed with a wing 3-pointer to push the advantage to five.
Kerr turned back to Curry to close out the contest, stretching him to a season-high minutes total. Curry responded with two floaters and a free throw in overtime, capping his 41-night and securing the franchise’s seventh victory. The surge places the Warriors alongside only the 1950-51 Boston Celtics as the sole teams in league history to immediately follow an 0-3 start with a seven-game win streak.
| Metric / Stat | Stephen Curry vs. Orlando Magic |
|---|---|
| Total Points | 41 |
| Points in Final 7 Minutes (Regulation) | 17 |
| Points in Final 2:21 (Regulation) | 12 |
| Career 40-Point Games | 77 |
| 40-Point Games After Age 35 | 16 (All-Time Record) |
It makes me super proud of the work that’s gone in, especially with some injuries and all that,
Curry stated after the final buzzer. But just the idea I could still get to a certain level you kind of feed off of that. Especially when it’s in a winning fashion like tonight, where we needed all of them. I appreciate the longevity.
Kerr pointed directly to the daily preparation behind the milestone. Work ethic,
Kerr said. Good genes. He’s been blessed with a body that’s held up. But he’s earned that through his strength training, conditioning and fitness level.
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Earlier coverage: Steph Curry scores 41 points as Warriors defeat Magic in overtime
