In a thrilling matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks, Stephen Curry put on a scoring spectacle, dropping a season-high 60 points. Despite Curry's incredible performance, the Warriors fell short in an overtime defeat, with Trae Young leading the charge for the Hawks with 35 points.
Curry's 60-point outburst in this game was just two points shy of his career-high of 62, which he achieved earlier this year against the Portland Trail Blazers. The sharpshooting guard was in top form, converting 22 of his 38 field goal attempts, including 10 three-pointers out of 23 attempts. Curry was also flawless from the free-throw line, sinking all six of his attempts.
By reaching the 60-point mark, Curry became just the 10th player in NBA history to have multiple 60-point games to his name. The rarity of such an accomplishment emphasizes the exceptional talent and scoring prowess possessed by the Warriors' superstar.
This game marked the sixth instance of a player scoring 60 or more points during the 2023-24 NBA season, placing it third in the record books for most 60-point performances in a season. Only the 1961-62 season, with 17 such games, and the 1962-63 season, with nine, had more. Notably, three of these high-scoring games have ended in losses for the player's team, including a 60-point effort by Devin Booker on January 26th, and Karl-Anthony Towns' 60-point game on January 22nd.
While Curry stole the show for the Warriors, the Hawks had their own standout performers. Dejounte Murray proved to be the hero in overtime, scoring the last seven points in an 11-0 run that ultimately secured the victory for Atlanta. Murray finished the game with 19 points, while Onyeka Okongwu had a career-high 22 points, accompanied by a season-high 16 rebounds. Jalen Johnson also contributed with 21 points for the Hawks.
The win against the Warriors marked the fourth consecutive victory for the Hawks during their current six-game homestand, which is also their best stretch of the season. As they improve their performance at home, Atlanta now boasts a 4-1 record over this string of games.
The game remained tightly contested throughout, with the score tied at 89 entering the fourth quarter. It was then that Curry ignited, scoring Golden State's first two baskets of the final period and ultimately giving the Warriors a slim lead with a clutch three-pointer.
Unfortunately for Golden State, rookie sensation Jonathan Kuminga's streak of eight consecutive games scoring over 20 points came to an end as he fouled out with 16 points and only 1:06 remaining in regulation. Kuminga has been a revelation for the Warriors this season and has showcased tremendous potential.
Both teams had their fair share of injury concerns during the game. Golden State's Andrew Wiggins exited with an ankle injury and did not return. Additionally, Dario Saric, who had been battling illness, missed his second consecutive game for the Warriors. For the Hawks, Saddiq Bey was ruled out before the game due to a sprained ankle suffered in their previous contest against the Phoenix Suns.
Despite the setbacks, this contest between the Warriors and the Hawks was a display of high-level basketball and individual brilliance. Stephen Curry's 60-point masterpiece will go down in the books as another chapter in his illustrious career, solidifying his status as one of the all-time great shooters. Meanwhile, the Hawks continue to build on their recent success, as they capitalize on their homecourt advantage and climb the rankings in the NBA.
