Aaron Gordon Shines with 50 Points, but Curry Responds for the Warriors Victory
In an epic showdown at the Chase Center, Aaron Gordon of the Denver Nuggets put on an impressive offensive performance, but Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors stole the show in an exciting 137-131 overtime victory. Gordon’s tenth three-pointer, which seemed to seal the victory for the Nuggets, was answered by Curry, who tied the score with a long-range shot. Curry continued his dominance in overtime, leading the Warriors to victory.Gordon had a night to remember, scoring 50 points with an amazing 17 of 21 in field goals and 10 of 11 from the three-point line. His performance included eight consecutive three-pointers at the start of the game, one short of the NBA record. “Ridiculous,” Curry said of Gordon’s performance. “Whatever he did this summer, it worked.” Gordon’s performance was even more remarkable considering his evolution as a shooter. Two seasons ago, he only made 29% of his three-pointers, but last season he improved significantly, reaching 43.6%. Curry, for his part, scored 42 points, his second-highest total in a home opener. The Warriors, who struggled when Curry was not on the court, won their minutes by 15 points.“The bigger the moment, the more he rises,” Draymond Green said about Curry. “He’s a quiet guy… but he loves the show. Whenever there’s a show to be put on, he’s going to put it on.”
Draymond Green
One of the Warriors’ key strategic decisions was the implementation of a larger lineup in the final quarter, featuring Curry, Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, and Al Horford. This formation, which had never been tested in training, allowed them to better match the Nuggets defensively.“The shot he made to tie at the end [of regulation time], is a shot only he can make,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman.
David Adelman
This lineup cut a seven-point deficit in the final 3:50 of regulation and outscored the Nuggets by six in overtime. The victory propels the Warriors to a 2-0 season start, while the Nuggets (0-1) will seek to recover in their next game.“It was really fun to watch a group that has never played together close out a game against one of the best teams in the league,” Kerr said.
Steve Kerr
