On Facebook
On Flipboard
Steph Curry cools off with uncharacteristic performance
Steph Curry began April on a historic run, dropping 52, 37 and 36 points in three consecutive games as the Golden State Warriors surged in the tightly contested Western Conference.
This late-season surge, sparked by the acquisition of Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline in February, saw Curry achieve a remarkable feat. He became the oldest point guard in NBA history to record back-to-back 35-point games, according to StatMamba.
However, the scorching stretch came to a sudden halt on Sunday, as the Warriors’ five-game winning streak ended in a 106-96 loss to the Houston Rockets. Curry was held to just three points on 1-of-10 shooting, including a painful 1-of-8 from beyond the arc.
It was his lowest point total of the season in a game where he was healthy—his previous low had been a two-point effort against Memphis on Dec. 19, when he was forced to leave the game due to injury.
This performance marked the first time in Curry’s career that he scored fewer than five points in a game where he played at least 33 minutes, an uncharacteristic off-night for the sharpshooter.
OVERWHELMING defensive effort from Houston to keep Steph Curry in check pic.twitter.com/IYiojR1KLa
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 7, 2025
The sharp contrast to his recent brilliance highlighted the unpredictability of even the game’s greatest players. Despite his struggles, Curry contributed eight assists, highlighting his playmaking ability, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Houston’s defense.
Amen Thompson was key in defending Curry, applying relentless pressure that disrupted the Warriors’ offensive flow. The Rockets’ defense focused on denying open looks, forcing Golden State into tough shots and stifling their offensive rhythm. Houston’s defensive scheme proved effective, as the 37-year-old was neutralized for the majority of the game.
The outcome had significant implications for both teams. The Warriors (46-32) dropped into a four-way tie for fifth place in the Western Conference, putting their playoff positioning in jeopardy with just four regular-season games remaining.
They now find themselves tied with the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies, who are in a play-in spot. On the other hand, the Rockets' (52-27) victory strengthened their playoff position, bringing them closer to securing the No. 2 seed in the West.
In a season full of outstanding performances from Curry, this game served as a reminder of how even the most prolific players can be contained with a well-executed defensive strategy. The Rockets’ ability to shut down Curry played a pivotal role in their win.
More must-reads:
- LeBron James proposes an intriguing NBA change
- NBA names Kyle Filipowski Summer League MVP, announces All-SL teams
- The '10 three-pointers in an NBA game' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Knicks Predicted to Part Ways With Karl-Anthony Towns in Blockbuster Three-Team Trade
The New York Knicks are looking to make more moves to upgrade their depth as they figure to be one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference next season. Of course, the Knicks made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000 last season and with the amount of injuries to top players in the East, the Conference is wide open entering next season. Because of this, the Knicks have emerged as one of the favorites to win the East thanks to their core led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Despite this, Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell and Rohan Raman recently created a three-team mock trade that would see the Knicks move on from Towns. In the trade, the Knicks would add Jrue Holiday, Robert Williams III and a 2028 first-round pick via the Portland Trail Blazers while they would send Towns and Pacome Dadiet to Portland. The Trail Blazers would also send Duop Reath to the Atlanta Hawks in this proposed mock trade. While the Knicks are looking at ways to improve their depth, moving on from Towns would be a tough decision for them to make despite his struggles, especially on the defensive side, during the playoffs last season. It would also be a tough decision to swap Towns for Williams III due to his injury history, especially with Mitchell Robinson’s injury history as well and the Knicks’ lack of true center depth. While that may be the case, adding a veteran point guard in Holiday to the second unit could be a good addition to the Knicks’ bench and Williams III would also give them more size. Despite this, it is highly unlikely that the Knicks will move on from Towns this summer and likely into next season as they see their core being able to help them compete for a championship next season.
Chicago Blackhawks reportedly set to trade 25-year-old goaltender to Stars rival, Edmonton Oilers
Browns make official Deshaun Watson move before training camp
Most Cleveland Browns fans do not expect to see Deshaun Watson play another snap for their beloved yet perpetually tortured franchise. He is not going anywhere until after the 2025-26 season, however. Will this controversial, declining and largely unhealthy quarterback have a chance to audition for another job at some point in this upcoming campaign? Before answering that question, the three-time Pro Bowler has to get on the practice field. And that will take a while. As expected, the Browns placed Watson on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 29-year-old ruptured his right Achilles tendon in an Oct. 20 loss versus the Cincinnati Bengals. He then suffered a re-tear in January, causing many to wonder if he will suit up at all this season. Watson is nonetheless maintaining a presence in Cleveland’s QB room and is determined to return in 2025. Second-year defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. joins him on the PUP list, and wide receiver David Bell is landing on the Active/Non-Football Injury list. Rounding out the series of roster moves, the Browns are waiving WR Jaelen Gill. The team begins training camp practice on Wednesday, with plenty of matters to address. Although Watson will command attention as long as he is on Cleveland, fans are eager to know who the starting quarterback will be when the Brownies host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. A tight and intriguing QB competition is set to unfold, following a confounding offseason. Browns have to figure out their QB situation Cleveland acquired former first-round pick Kenny Pickett in March, signed veteran and 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco in April, selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft and then snatched Shedeur Sanders in the fifth. Given the assets the organization spent to obtain the three younger signal-callers, the cleanest thing to do is part ways with the 40-year-old Flacco and head into the season with three quarterbacks. And yet, because of his wealth of experience, many would probably argue that the Super Bowl 47 MVP deserves to start under center until one of the others earns the job. Pickett appears to be the early favorite, but there could be plenty of twists and turns before summer’s end. The Deshaun Watson element also adds another layer to this perplexing saga. If the 2016 national champion does return to action during the 2025-26 campaign, then Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski will have a decision to make. It may not be a difficult one, however. During his first three years with the Browns, Watson has completed only 61.2 percent of his passes for 3,365 yards and 19 touchdowns. The squad is 9-10 in games that he starts. Regardless of how his recovery progresses, it seems safe to say that No. 4 and his five-year, $230 million contract will serve as a black eye on a Browns organization that is already covered in gashes.
Is Giants' Joe Schoen already having second thoughts about Jaxson Dart, Shedeur Sanders decision?
Caitlin Clark drops mic on Kelsey Plum's Instagram post
Caitlin Clark might be the most popular figure in women's basketball right now, but she continues to draw shots left and right, both on and off the court. The Iowa product has stayed even keeled and mostly unrattled, but that doesn't mean she won't fight back. That's why, in the light of Kelsey Plum's recent comments, she decided to take matters into her own hands and clapped back at her with a simple, six-word message. Plum shared a picture of her during the WNBA's All-Star Weekend, which showed half of a Nike logo in the background. Clark was quick to spot it and just wrote "Thank u for the Nike ad." This happened just hours after Plum seemingly took a shot at Clark and her Team Clark teammates for reportedly not getting involved in their pre-game protest. “The T-shirt was determined this morning. Not to tattletale, but zero members of Team Clark were very present for that,” Plum revealed. “That really needed to be mentioned,” Sabrina Ionescu added while both laughed. WNBA All-Stars warmed up with a T-Shirt that read 'Pay us what you owe us,' ahead of their new CBA agreement, which is expected to be signed in the offseason. WNBA players get around 9 percent of the league's revenue, and they're asking for a bigger share since most of them also have to play overseas during the offseason because of the salary disparity. Plum is the vice president of the WNBPA, so it's not surprising to see her so involved in the protest and the demands. Then again, it's hard to understand the reasoning behind the tattle telling, as not only does it show that there might not be a united front ahead of these negotiations, but it also drives attention away from where it should be.
Dolphins Engaged in Contract Talks With Super Bowl Champion Cornerback
The Miami Dolphins' plan for the makeup of its cornerback room in 2025 has held firm over the course of the offseason. Step one was finding a new home for three-time All-Pro Jalen Ramsey, who had been on the franchise's chopping block since April and was eventually offloaded in a blockbuster trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers on June 30. Step two was finding a like-for-like replacement for Ramsey, something the Dolphins have yet to do nearly one month after the deal. The Dolphins have been linked with multiple free agent cornerbacks, including Jaire Alexander (who signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens last month) and Asante Samuel Jr. More recently, they have entertained the idea of acquiring Rasul Douglas to fill the void Ramsey left behind. "Per source, Dolphins remain in active discussions with free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas," Barry Jackson of the Miami Heraldwrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on July 21. "He's the most accomplished HEALTHY corner available who isn't older than 30." Jackson's claim of Douglas being one of the better "healthy" options on the free agent market places the Super Bowl LII champion above the likes of Samuel Jr., who played just four games last season due to lingering "stinger symptoms" that have affected his shoulders and neck. Douglas, originally a third-round pick (No. 99 overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft, has played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills over the course of his professional career. He also had stints on the Las Vegas Raiders' and Houston Texans' offseason rosters, as well as the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad, in 2021, but he did not play in a regular-season game for any of those three teams. Douglas has made 120 appearances in the NFL, logging 441 tackles, 19 interceptions, 79 passes defended, three forced fumbles, and two sacks in that span.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
