SAN ANTONIO — A historic Steph Curry performance was just enough to lift the Warriors past the Spurs at the Frost Bank Center on Friday.
Curry warmed up in Nike shoes—Kobe’s, to be exact—but changed back to his Under Armour Curry’s once the game began, eventually slipping into another UA blue pair. Regardless of what shoe Curry wore, he had Spurs defenders slipping and sliding all night.
The Warriors superstar scored 31 points in the second half and 49 overall, tying him with the great Michael Jordan for the most 40-point games (44) after turning 30. It was Curry’s second consecutive 40-plus point game, following a 46-point outing in the Warriors’ victory on Wednesday.
Curry’s herculean effort lifted Golden State to a narrow 109-108 win over San Antonio. Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points for the Spurs, and his third-quarter theatrics—including drawing a foul on a rebound—led to Warriors coach Steve Kerr receiving a technical foul.
In the final two minutes, the Warriors and Spurs traded baskets, but the deciding plays came within the last 30 seconds. Curry got a crucial steal and delivered a beautiful behind-the-back pass to Jimmy Butler. However, Butler’s layup attempt was blocked by Wembanyama, keeping the Spurs ahead by one point.
With six seconds remaining, Curry drove to the basket, drew a foul, and sank both free throws to give the Warriors a lead they would not relinquish. After De’Aaron Fox missed a mid-range jumper for San Antonio, Golden State secured the win.
The Warriors needed every point from Curry, especially early in the game when their other primary scorers—Jimmy Butler and Will Richard—struggled, combining to shoot just 3-for-25 in the first half. Notably, Curry bucked his usual pattern of resting in the third quarter, playing straight through until the fourth began.
Golden State (8-6), winners of two straight, will now travel to New Orleans to face former Warrior Kevon Looney on Sunday in the fourth game of their six-game road trip.
### Guarding Wembanyama
After having relative success against the 7-foot-5 phenom Wembanyama—who still managed 31 points and 15 rebounds on a slow night—the Warriors stuck to their trusted defensive scheme. Draymond Green, a foot shorter but built like a brick, took on primary defensive duties.
Other helpside defenders like Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski swarmed Wembanyama whenever he began dribbling, creating traffic that led to frustration. Although Wembanyama kept turnovers relatively low, the Spurs as a whole did not, committing 14 turnovers in the first half alone, which resulted in 17 Warriors points.
The defense tightened in the second half, but Wembanyama responded with 10 points in the third quarter, including a spectacular self-alley-oop off the glass. The Spurs made a concerted effort to get him the ball more in the paint after feeding him only once in the first half.
Midway through the third, Wembanyama electrified the arena by slamming an alley-oop on a baseline out-of-bounds play. Tensions flared between Wembanyama and Green, resulting in a heated exchange that required Warriors security to intervene and de-escalate. Green was subbed out shortly afterward.
### Richard, Payton Shine; Moody Injects Shooting
Steve Kerr promised drastic changes to the starting lineup and delivered by inserting Moses Moody and rookie Will Richard alongside Curry, Green, and Butler.
This new starting lineup could be more than a passing fad, judging by their play over the two games in San Antonio. Moody has arguably been the team’s second-best shooter, injecting much-needed perimeter scoring, while Richard impressed with his energy and hustle.
Richard reversed home a sweet layup over Wembanyama in the first quarter, then nailed a triple over outstretched hands in the second. He finished the game with 10 points.
Meanwhile, Gary Payton II continued to play significant minutes in Jonathan Kuminga’s absence due to a knee injury, providing solid defense and versatility off the bench.
### Podziemski’s Role
The Warriors closed the second quarter with a Moody-Curry-Podziemski-Butler-Green lineup—the same unit that helped the team finish last season with a 23-8 record.
Though they were outscored 12-10 during that stretch, the ball movement improved, and the Spurs had to work for their shots.
Brandin Podziemski, whom Kerr praises for doing “all the little things” and serving as a “connector” on offense, showed exactly why he’s been invaluable this season. He contributed 10 points, grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists, set strong screens, and guarded key Spurs players Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox with effectiveness.
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The Warriors’ win in San Antonio highlighted Steph Curry’s brilliance, the promising contributions of their revamped starting lineup, and a defensive approach that kept Wembanyama in check when it mattered most. Golden State looks to carry this momentum into the coming stretch of their road trip.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/14/steph-curry-michael-jordan-record-40-point-game/
