Stephen Curry can already feel the enthusiasm building in the Golden State Warriors locker room.
Coach Steve Kerr feels it as well.
So, after making no substantial trade deadline additions Thursday, Curry made his first seven 3-pointers, scored 29 of his 42 points in the first half, and nearly single-handedly powered Golde State to a 131-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
“The challenge is not to get ahead of yourself, thinking you can just show up and win games,” Curry said when asked about the Warriors’ recent turnaround. “We’ve got a long way to go to get some (playoff) security.”
The Warriors opened the night ranked 11th in the Western Conference. However, if Curry continues to play like he did on Thursday, the Warriors’ fortunes might improve dramatically.
Curry shot 15 of 22 from the field, including a season-high 11 three-pointers on 16 attempts, and recorded his fifth 40-point game of the season as the Indiana crowd celebrated his masterpiece. The Warriors have won three straight and are 4-1 on a five-game trip.
Pascal Siakam had 16 points and eight rebounds for Indiana. Myles Turner had 15 points and seven rebounds, but All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton struggled offensively, scoring five points in 26 minutes. He had 11 assists.
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts after scoring a three-pointer…
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts after shooting a 3-pointer against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, February 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. Photo: AP/Darron Cummings
The Pacers also struggled with other issues.
“Well, he (Curry) was making shots, but we got beat by their hard play — and our lack of hard play,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle admitted. “Simple as that. It was ugly. I believe we lost every quarter.
Curry ensured it as Golden State ended its three-game losing slide in the series. The Warriors had not defeated the Pacers since December 2021.
He made 10 of his first 11 shots, missing only one three-pointer as the Warriors led 70-58 at halftime.
Indiana defends the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30).
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) is defended by Indiana Pacers’ Andrew Nembhard (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, February 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. Photo: AP/Darron Cummings
Curry cooled down in the second half, but his teammates didn’t. The Warriors led 95-76 after three quarters, and the Pacers never recovered on a night when the NBA’s top scoring team fell 15.4 points short of its season average.
Jonathan Kuminga scored 18 points for Golden State.
“We had a great start to the season and then things, obviously, went kind of haywire for a while,” Kerr told reporters. “But this seems like the best version of us, with the starting lineup playing as they are, and bringing individuals off the bench who are putting in terrific energy and effort. And Steph was boiling hot there early.”
Nobody had a wilder 24 hours than guard Cory Joseph, who flew with the Warriors to Indiana on Wednesday night, was traded to the Pacers as Thursday’s trade deadline approached, and ended up jobless after the Pacers released him.
This was Indiana’s second trade of the day. The Pacers also traded starting swingman Buddy Hield to Philadelphia and acquired swingman Doug McDermott from San Antonio in a three-team transaction.