Key Takeaways:
- The Milestone: Stephen Curry became the first player in NBA history to cross 4,500 career three-pointers.
- The Result: Golden State clawed back from a 12-point deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns 114-111.
- The Standings: The win moves the Warriors into the 5th seed, narrowly avoiding the play-in tournament for now.
SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry didn’t wait for the ball to hit the bottom of the net. As his record-breaking 4,500th career three-pointer left his fingertips with four minutes remaining, the 38-year-old superstar turned to the Chase Center crowd and held up four fingers. The shot didn’t just cement his status as the greatest shooter ever—it ignited a 14-2 run that propelled the Golden State Warriors to a 114-111 comeback victory over the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns appeared to have the game iced, leading by double digits midway through the fourth quarter. Kevin Durant was lethal, dropping 34 points and silencing the home crowd with mid-range jumpers. However, the momentum shifted when Draymond Green stripped Jusuf Nurkic in the paint, leading to a transition look that Curry converted from 32 feet. The stadium shook as the Warriors bench emptied in celebration of the milestone.
Clutch Gene: Breaking Down the Final Minutes
Golden State’s defense locked the gates in the final three minutes, holding Phoenix to zero field goals. While Curry provided the fireworks, Jonathan Kuminga provided the muscle. Kuminga finished with 24 points, including a monstrous put-back dunk over Bradley Beal that gave the Warriors their first lead of the second half.
Curry finished the night with 38 points on 9-of-15 shooting from deep. His efficiency at this stage of his career continues to defy logic. He accounted for 15 of the Warriors’ 32 fourth-quarter points, outscoring the entire Suns starting lineup in the final frame.
Box Score: Warriors vs. Suns
| Player | Points | 3PM-A | Ast/Reb | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Curry (GSW) | 38 | 9-15 | 8 Ast | 4,500 Career Threes |
| Jonathan Kuminga (GSW) | 24 | 1-3 | 9 Reb | Team-high +14 |
| Kevin Durant (PHX) | 34 | 4-7 | 10 Reb | 31st 30-pt game of season |
| Devin Booker (PHX) | 22 | 2-8 | 6 Ast | Struggled in 4th Quarter |
What They Said
“I remember when 3,000 felt like a mountain. To be at 4,500 now… it’s just a blessing. But honestly, I’m just glad we got the stop on that last possession. Being in the play-in hunt makes every bucket feel twice as heavy.”
— Stephen Curry on his latest milestone
“We let them get comfortable. You can’t give Steph an inch, and we gave him a mile in the fourth quarter. We have to be better closing out games if we want to contend in April.”
— Phoenix Head Coach Frank Vogel
The Western Conference Shakeup
This win is massive for Golden State’s postseason aspirations. By sweeping the season series with Phoenix, the Warriors now hold the tiebreaker over the Suns. This win effectively creates a two-game cushion between them and the Sacramento Kings in the 7th spot. With only 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Warriors are peaking at the right time.
Phoenix, meanwhile, falls into a tie for 6th place. Their remaining schedule is the toughest in the league, featuring two games against the conference-leading Thunder and a road trip to Boston. The “Big Three” in the desert still hasn’t found the defensive consistency needed to survive a seven-game series against high-volume shooting teams like Golden State.
