Curry’s clutch game, Warriors past Bucks in OT

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks in San Francisco, Saturday, March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

2023.03.11 – Stephen Curry scored 36 points with 22 of those in the fourth quarter and overtime, leading the Golden State Warriors past the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks 125-116 on Saturday night.

Curry knocked down all the dazzling shots everybody has come to expect from him in clutch time – and then a surprising block at the rim that mattered just as much or maybe even more. The MVP guard hit a tying 3-pointer with 19 seconds left in regulation, then blocked a layup attempt by Jrue Holiday in the closing moments.

“It was just kind of a read-and-react situation,” Curry said. “Obviously I’m not in that position very often to pull over, use verticality and all that, but the read and the timing was perfect.”

“He came out of nowhere. Jrue had a straight line drive to the rim,” Draymond Green said.

The Warriors got the ball back with 1.9 seconds remaining and Curry in-bounded to Green. The Dubs had a few different options on the final play of regulation, but Green called his own number because his defender, Brook Lopez, was sagging off to account for a red-hot Curry, who sprinted to the 3-point line after throwing the ball in-bounds. Green’s 3-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out and the game went to overtime, he thought for sure it was “cash.”

“I probably saved $50,000 because the dance I was going to do when that ball went in,” Green said of his missed shot at the end of regulation. Sam Cassell “all the way down the court, I was going for it. But I can’t waste my money now, but I was going to waste it then and I was going to get every penny’s worth. But unfortunately it rolled out.”

Holiday had put Milwaukee up on a 3-point shot with 32.7 seconds to play and wound up with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. But the Bucks (48-19), playing without star Giannis Antetokounmpo, had their three-game winning streak snapped with just their second defeat in 21 games since Jan. 21.

“I loved this game. I thought we competed the entire time,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I thought we were really solid for most of the night.”

2023.03.11 – Warriors vs. Milwaukee (NBA Video highlights)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) makes a 3-point basket against Milwaukee Bucks’ Jevon Carter (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Saturday, March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

2023.03.11 – Warriors vs. Milwaukee (NBA Video highlights)

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2023.03.11 – Warriors vs. Milwaukee (NBA Video highlights)

Curry’s 3-point with 1:08 remaining in regulation got Golden State within 108-106. A steal by Klay Thompson on the other end moments later led to a tying layup by Curry before Holiday delivered.

“Overtime and fourth quarter, he got away from us a little bit,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said of Curry. “Some of them were high level.”

Thompson added 22 points, Donte DiVincenzo had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Warriors won at home for the seventh in a row and 11th in 12.

Curry loved making a difference on the defensive end.

“To hit a couple big shots down the stretch and then find yourself in a position where you can make a play on the other side, it gives everybody a good boost because it’s shocking,” Curry said. “I think I got more about that in the locker room than any shot I made tonight, which speaks for itself.”

Khris Middleton had 19 points and five assists, Bobby Portis contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds and Brook Lopez 19 points, seven boards and five blocks.

Bucks leading scorer and rebounder Antetokounmpo missed his second straight game with right hand soreness and third overall after sitting out March 7 with a non-COVID illness.

Golden State used a 16-4 burst out of halftime to go ahead 66-53 but the Bucks fought back to get within 80-77 heading into the fourth.

2023.03.11 – Warriors vs. Milwaukee (NBC Sports Post Game)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) looks to pass the ball while being defended by Golden State Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Saturday, March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

2023.03.11 – Warriors vs. Milwaukee (NBC Sports Post Game)

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2023.03.11 – Warriors vs. Milwaukee (NBC Sports Post Game)

Green went down hard and limped to the locker room midway through the third quarter before returning with 38.7 seconds left. While cutting through the key, Green’s left foot got tangled with Holiday’s right leg and Green tripped and rolled his ankle.

While sore, “I will 100% expect to play,” Green said of Monday’s game with Phoenix.

Green finished with five points, 13 rebounds and nine assists and Golden State shot better from beyond the arc (41.8%) than it did inside (40.4%).

Curry returned March 5 at the Lakers from a left leg injury suffered Feb. 4 that sidelined him for 11 games. He played on the team’s three-game road trip.

DiVincenzo has learned that anything Curry lets fly has a chance.

“It’s super fun to watch,” he said. “Sometimes when it leaves his hand I’m like, ‘No way.’”

MVP chants echoed through Chase Center as Curry iced the game at the free-throw line with 28.2 seconds left in the extra session.

“Steph, he’s fearless,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “And it doesn’t matter if there’s a slow start or if he hasn’t had much going. He can ignite at any time.”

KLAY’S GIFT

Thompson presented soon-to-be 16-year-old Braulio Noriega with a birthday surprise: a custom-basketball wheelchair. Noriega had his left leg amputated from above the knee because of cancer as a 6-year-old.

2023.03.11 – Warriors vs. Milwaukee (Kruger Show Post Game)

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, right, shoots against Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr., left, and center Brook Lopez during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Saturday, March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

2023.03.11 – Warriors vs. Milwaukee (Kruger Show Post Game)

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2023.03.11 – Warriors vs. Milwaukee (Kruger Show Post Game)

The teen hopes to compete playing wheelchair basketball in college and eventually in his home country of Mexico.

“I can’t even describe how I felt,” an overjoyed Noriega said. “… There’s so much emotional energy from him.”

TIP-INS

Bucks: Milwaukee shot just 9 of 25 on 3s in the first half to 10 for 24 by the Warriors. Allen missed his initial five and shot 2 of 9 overall. … The Bucks managed just seven offensive rebounds to the Warriors’ 18.

Warriors: JaMychal Green scored 11 of his 18 points in the first quarter for Golden State making three 3-pointers. … Golden State had 33 assists — its 35th game with 30 or more to tie the Nuggets for most in the NBA. … G Moses Moody was recalled from the G League Santa Cruz Warriors and grabbed four rebounds in six minutes as the Warriors held a 65-48 advantage on the boards.

Golden State took sole possession of sixth place in the Western Conference and is just a half game back of the fifth-place Clippers.