[Saba Sports News] During the opening night of the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament, Steph Curry had a pivotal moment in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday evening. However, the closing seconds of the match didn’t unfold as smoothly as Curry’s usual impeccable jump shots.
As the clock ticked down to less than 24 seconds remaining, the Golden State Warriors and the Thunder found themselves tied at 139 points at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Curry expertly managed the clock, dribbling it down to the last four seconds before initiating his decisive move from the right wing, where he faced off against Thunder defender Lu Dort. He executed a scoop shot over the outstretched arm of rookie Chet Holmgren, propelling the Warriors to a 141-139 lead with just milliseconds remaining on the game clock.
However, the situation became a bit more complicated. The referees reviewed the play to determine whether Curry’s Warriors teammate, Draymond Green, had interfered with the rim, which could have nullified the basket due to offensive goaltending.
Ultimately, the referees upheld the basket. While Green had indeed made contact with the rim, the officials ruled that Thunder guard Josh Giddey had grabbed the net before that, causing the infraction. This decision brought delayed satisfaction to the Warriors’ fans.
Curry’s impressive performance in the game included 30 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 successful three-pointers. He also made 9 of his 15 field goal attempts, with the most critical one occurring in the final moments of the match.