For three quarters, Stephen Curry looked like a player who had not been on the court for more than a month.
That rust quickly disappeared in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
The All-Star guard scored 19 of his 27 points in the final 12 minutes of a 113–105 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
“He looked great. He is what he is. He instills fear in opponents and opens up a lot for his teammates,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
Stephen Curry was on a one-minute ban after missing 11 games with a left foot injury. He ended up playing 32 minutes in a crucial game for both teams.
Stephen Curry said, “I felt like the game went on, I got stronger.” “It felt great to be thrown back out there straight away. It was a bit sluggish in the beginning as far as skill sharpness goes, but then you start to feel the spirit of the game. If I get better as the game progresses, so it’s always a good sign for me personally.”
Stephen Curry missed his first three shots and didn’t get on the board until the middle of the second quarter when he scored eight straight points. His run began with a step-back 3-pointer with 7:26 remaining in the first half.
After going 3 for 11 from the field through the first three quarters, Stephen Curry looked more like himself in the fourth. He was 5 of 9 from the field – including 3 of 6 on 3-pointers – and made all six of his free-throw attempts.
The Warriors, who were trailing by 20 late in the first quarter, came back to tie it at 91 midway through the fourth but never regained the lead as their five-game winning streak came to an end.
Stephen Curry’s goal in the final 17 games is to ensure that the defending champions avoid the play-in tournament and try to secure home-court advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs. Golden State (34-31) is in fifth place in the Western Conference.
“It’s weird to say. We’re trying to win the championship but we’re also trying to stay out of the play-ins. Depending on our challenges this year, both could be true,” Stephen Curry said. “In terms of rotation and the number of guys playing well this year, it’s a fine balance between being prepared and knowing who you’re going to be out with.
“We’re trying to find the right combination to finish the season strong so that potentially whatever we play in the playoffs, we know what our identity is.”
Andre Iguodala also returned for the Warriors on Sunday and went scoreless in six minutes. He has played only four matches this season due to a hip problem.