Perennial All-Star and MVP candidate Steph Curry hit the first buzzer-beater of his storied NBA career on Friday night, lifting the host Warriors to a 105-103 victory (box score) over the visiting Rockets.
Curry shot just 6-of-21 (28.6%), but he finished with 22 points and 12 assists and came through when Golden State needed him most. Houston led for most of the game but did not score in the final three minutes.
Christian Wood (19 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks) and Kevin Porter Jr. (17 points, 8 assists, 4 steals) led the way for Houston, but each missed a 3-pointer in the final 65 seconds that would have put the Rockets in front. Wood was brilliant for most of his 34 minutes, shooting 7-of-13 from the field (53.8%) and 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%).
Rookie guard Jalen Green struggled mightily with 3 points on 0-of-11 shooting and had a crucial turnover late in the game. But in contrast to Wednesday, head coach Stephen Silas allowed the 19-year-old to close the game on Friday, using it as a learning experience.
After shooting 22-of-45 on 3-pointers (48.9%) in Wednesday’s thrilling win at Utah, that performance slipped to 10-of-35 on Friday (28.6%), and that gap proved significant. Garrison Mathews hit 2-of-5 from 3-point range, but one of those misses was a clean look in the final seconds prior to Curry’s walk-off winner from the top of the key.
🚨 STEPHEN CURRY CALLS GAME 🚨
His #TissotBuzzerBeater lifts the @warriors! #ThisIsYourTime pic.twitter.com/SCzYCYnKsj
— NBA (@NBA) January 22, 2022
For the Rockets (14-33), Friday’s heartbreaker ends a long five-game road trip at 3-2. In the grand scheme, that should be viewed as a success for a rebuilding season. Yet, the result will be painful after having a golden opportunity slip away versus an elite opponent like the Warriors, who own the second-best record in the Western Conference at 33-13.
Houston will now have an extended break, likely featuring ample practice time, before kicking off a four-game homestand with Tuesday’s matchup versus San Antonio at Toyota Center. For now, scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction from Friday’s tough loss at Golden State.
That was Stephen Curry's first career game-winning buzzer-beater
Curry's game-winning buzzer-beater is the first by a Warriors player since Andre Iguodala on Jan. 3, 2014 against the Hawks (which was assisted by Curry). pic.twitter.com/xKZ6PyhBAi
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 22, 2022
