The Golden State Warriors couldn’t keep their early momentum rolling on Friday night, falling 139-119 to the Portland Trail Blazers. Coming off a thrilling overtime win over the Denver Nuggets just 24 hours earlier, Golden State looked drained. The team committed 25 turnovers and never found the rhythm that carried them through their first two games of the season.
Still, Stephen Curry refused to slow down. After dropping 40 in the win over Denver, he followed it up with 35 points, six rebounds, and three assists against Portland, shooting 12-of-22 from the field and 7-of-14 from deep. It wasn’t enough to salvage the night but it was another glimpse of how much the Warriors still rely on their ageless star.
A Reminder of Who Runs the Show
The night before, Curry put on a masterclass in front of the Chase Center crowd. He exploded for 42 points against the defending champion Nuggets, scoring 28 after halftime. His 34-foot, game-tying three with 21 seconds left in regulation sent the arena into chaos and the Warriors to an overtime win. It was vintage Curry — the shot-making, the crowd, the emotion.
Nights like that remind the league that his reign isn’t over yet. That performance also moved him closer to one of the few players whose name still hovers beside his in the record books: Michael Jordan.
Curry Nears Jordan in Rare Company
With his outburst against Denver, Curry now stands within reach of one of Jordan’s most remarkable scoring marks — the most 40-point games by a player after turning 30. Jordan’s total sits at 44, while Curry has now recorded 42 and counting.
That places him firmly among an elite list that includes Damian Lillard, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, but no one has closed the gap on Jordan the way Curry has. It’s another milestone that speaks to how much he’s redefined aging in the NBA.
What It Means for the Warriors
Golden State’s early schedule has been a test of endurance. The win over Denver showed how dangerous the Warriors can be when everything clicks. The loss to Portland showed how quickly it can fall apart when fatigue sets in.
But even through the grind, Curry’s consistency remains the stabilizer. With Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Al Horford forming the veteran core, Golden State has the leadership to weather early-season adversity. And Curry, as always, is the one setting the standard — the calm in the storm, the constant in transition.
The Bigger Picture for the Warriors
The Warriors may have split their back-to-back, but their outlook remains the same: as long as Stephen Curry is on the floor, they’ll have belief. His name being mentioned alongside Jordan isn’t about rivalry — it’s about longevity, mastery, and how both players changed what greatness looks like over time.
For Curry, records are secondary to rhythm. But when that rhythm leads him into conversations with the greatest to ever do it, it’s a reminder of what makes him special. And for the Warriors, it’s proof that even after all these years, their star is still chasing history one impossible shot at a time.
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