Watching Stephen Curry play basketball in 2026 is a lot like watching a classic rock band still hitting the high notes on a world tour. You know the hits. You expect the spectacle. But every now and then, the rhythm gets a little weird before the big finale. That's basically what went down Thursday night at Chase Center when the Golden State Warriors took on the New York Knicks.
If you were looking for the box score to tell the whole story, you’d see Stephen Curry 3 pointers last game ended at a respectable 4-of-9. But man, the way he got there was anything but "standard." For a good chunk of the night, it looked like the rim had a lid on it for the greatest shooter to ever live.
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The Slow Burn and the Bruised Quad
The Warriors walked away with a 126-113 win, but for the first twenty-four minutes, Curry was an afterthought in the scoring column. He actually missed his first four attempts from deep. Honestly, it was a bit jarring. We’ve grown so used to him hitting a "logo shot" before the popcorn even gets cold that seeing a goose egg in the first half felt wrong.
It turns out there was a reason for the slow start. Reports after the game mentioned Steph was dealing with a bruised quad. It didn't look like much during the live broadcast, but you could tell his lift was a bit off early on. He wasn't getting that same snappy transition into his jump shot.
Instead of forcing the issue, he basically turned into a primary facilitator. He finished the night with seven assists, often finding Jimmy Butler—who led the team with 32 points—or feeding Moses Moody on the perimeter. Moody actually outshone Steph from deep in this specific game, hitting a massive seven triples.
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Breaking the Ice in the Third
Everything changed with 9:44 left in the third quarter. That’s when Steph finally saw one go through the net from beyond the arc. Once that first one drops, the energy in the building shifts. It’s like the defense starts panicking even more, even if he’s only 1-for-5 at that point.
He ended up scoring 27 points total, with a massive flurry in the fourth quarter. He scored five straight points midway through the final frame to push the lead to 107-94, effectively killing any Knicks comeback hopes.
Contextualizing the 4-of-9 Shooting
To understand why Stephen Curry 3 pointers last game matter, you have to look at the season he’s having at age 37. He’s currently leading the NBA, averaging about 4.6 made threes per game. Shooting 44.4% from deep against a Knicks defense that usually sells out to stop him is actually a win.
New York came into this game ranked 27th in the league at defending the three-point line. You’d think Steph would have had ten of them, but the Knicks played him tight, forcing him into a lot of "gravity" plays where he just ran around to create space for others.
- Total Points: 27
- 3-Point Shooting: 4/9 (44.4%)
- Total Field Goals: 10/17
- Assists: 7
- The Injury Factor: Bruised quad (played through it)
The most interesting part? This was only the third time all season he didn't hit a single three in the first half. The last time it happened was back in December against Orlando. He’s remarkably consistent, so when he has a "human" half of basketball, it becomes a talking point.
What This Means for the Warriors
The win puts the Warriors at 23-19, which is the first time they’ve been four games over .500 all season. It feels like they're finally finding an identity that doesn't solely rely on Steph hitting 10 threes a night. Having Butler as a secondary (or sometimes primary) engine has taken a massive load off Curry's shoulders.
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However, the injury bug is still lingering. While Steph played through the quad issue, the team lost Gui Santos to a nasty-looking ankle sprain in the first quarter. Steve Kerr confirmed today that Santos will miss the upcoming game against Charlotte.
Looking Ahead to the Next Matchup
Steph’s 3-point volume is something to watch as the Warriors host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. If the quad is still bothering him, we might see more of the "distributor" version of Curry. But let's be real: it's Charlotte. He grew up there. He usually likes to put on a show for the home-state crowd.
The 4-of-9 performance against New York was a tactical masterclass in "not forcing it." Even when the shot wasn't falling early, he finished with a higher shooting percentage than his season average. That’s the nuance of 2026 Steph Curry—he’s figured out how to be efficient even when his "superpower" takes a half-day off.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking Curry's performance for fantasy or just following the GOAT shooter, keep these three things in mind for the coming week.
- Monitor the Quad: Check the injury report two hours before tip-off against Charlotte. If he’s limited, his assist totals usually spike as he plays more of a decoy role.
- The Moody Factor: Moses Moody is becoming a legitimate 3-point threat. When Steph is double-teamed, Moody is the one benefiting most. Watch his "over" on 3-pointers made if Steph is playing through minor injuries.
- Efficiency over Volume: Don't get discouraged by a "low" number of makes. A 4-of-9 night is better for the Warriors' win probability than an 8-of-25 night. Curry is prioritizing high-percentage looks more this season than in years past.
The Warriors are currently in an eight-game homestand. This is the stretch where they need to solidify their playoff positioning in a crowded Western Conference. As long as Steph's 3-pointers keep hovering around that 40% mark, they’ll be a tough out for anyone.