And that’s what an Olympic semifinal should be like. This game between Team USA and Serbia reminded the hoopers exactly why they love this sport. Even when the US seemed to be in trouble going against Nikola Jokić and Co., Dream Team 2.0 soon recovered, courtesy of their Championship-winning experience. The Steve Kerr-led side got a grip on their defense, figured out a way to sink the right shots at the right time, and overcame the massive 13-point deficit to win, 95-91. Stephen Curry was undeniably the man of the hour.
Tonight’s game was all about Steph Curry! He covered all bases, scored 36 points, 12-for-19 shooting, brilliantly leading the team to a glorious victory. It seemed like he couldn’t miss a single shot tonight as he sank one after another from downtown. Of course, just like everyone, his ex-teammate Kevin Durant was so mesmerized that he ended up calling his performance “Godlike”! “That was a godlike performance. That was tough because he felt like he was struggling throughout the whole tournament.”
“We always said each night it could be somebody different. And tonight, he showed up. God was with him tonight. He was with us tonight, a true Steph — shot after shot, getting a steal at the end, finishing with the layup. He was everywhere. It was one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen him play,” KD said in a post-game interview.
Godly it was. Stephen Curry’s 5-20 record from beyond the arc before this game painted a stark picture of his usual brilliance. And maybe that’s why the performance seemed even more phenomenal as the 4x NBA Champion turned the tide in a matter of days. Carrying the same sentiment, LeBron James also heaped praise on his long-time rival. Reiterating his support for the Splash Brother, the 39-year-old said, “It was only a matter of time before he had one of these games.”
“We can see it every day. He puts too much work in not to have a game like this. We wouldn’t want it any other way. It was a perfect time for Chef to come out and do what he did,” Bron said, as he couldn’t stop praising the sharpshooter. Not only did Steph’s performance take Team USA over the line, but it also made Curry part of Olympic history!
Stephen Curry joins Carmelo Anthony, surpasses Stephon Marbury!
When Stephen Curry came to Paris, it was a dream scenario for him. However, his first-ever taste of the tournament soon went sour due to a personal slump. Team USA kept winning, but his struggles became glaring, so glaring that he even had to publicly address them multiple times. But just as he predicted, the shackles finally came off, and that too, on a day when his team needed him the most. Curry’s 36-point haul put him in an elite company featuring 3-time Olympic gold medallist Carmelo Anthony and Stephon Marbury.
There have been only four (4) games in Olympic men’s basketball history where a Team USA representative has scored more than 30 points. Carmelo Anthony has done it twice in 2012 and 2016, with Marbury doing it back in 2004. Melo’s 37-point game came during a humongous 156-73 win against Nigeria on Aug. 2, 2012. Marbury’s 31 points helped Team USA beat Spain 102-94 in the 2004 quarterfinals.
Marbury’s record in the knockout game stood for 20 years before finally being shattered by Stephen Curry. The former MVP now holds the record for most points scored by a Team USA player in any knockout game at the Olympics!
