Steph Curry’s Scorching 56-Point Game Helps Warriors Erase Magic Lead

Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic appeared to have the game under control Thursday night at the Kia Center, taking a 14-point lead into halftime. But Stephen Curry had other plans, turning the game around with a dazzling second-half performance that helped the Golden State Warriors surge to a 121-115 win.

Curry poured in 56 points in just 34 minutes, marking his first 40-point and 50-point games of the season. After a quiet first quarter, scoring only five points, Curry exploded for 51 points over the final three quarters.

He finished 16-for-25 from the field, including 12-for-19 from beyond the arc, and converted all 12 of his free-throw attempts. The 12 threes marked the third time in his career he reached that mark, though he fell two shy of tying Klay Thompson‘s single-game NBA record of 14.

His 56 points were the fourth-most in his storied 16-year career. While Curry was the undeniable star, his teammates struggled. The rest of the Warriors’ starting five combined for just 35 points. Draymond Green had 12, Moses Moody scored 10, Brandin Podziemski added eight, and Jimmy Butler finished with just five points.

Though Curry stole the spotlight, Quinten Post also made an impact off the bench. The rookie, a second-round pick, was a plus-22 in 24 minutes, scoring 18 key points. But for much of the first half, it was all Curry. He scored only five points in the first quarter but broke out for 16 in the second.

By halftime, Curry had 21 points, while the rest of the Warriors’ starters combined for just 18. Butler, in particular, struggled, managing only two points in nearly 15 minutes and finishing the half with a minus-21 rating.

Down by 17 points, the Warriors began their comeback in the third quarter. Curry’s two free throws at the 6:39 mark gave Golden State its first lead.

His 22 points in the third brought his total to 43, yet the Warriors still led by only five. Curry added 13 more in the fourth quarter, including three crucial 3-pointers, to seal the win.

While the Warriors are known for their offensive firepower, Thursday’s game was a classic case of size versus skill. The Magic’s frontcourt trio of Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Wendell Carter Jr. all stand 6-foot-10, giving them a significant height advantage over the Warriors.

Golden State’s starting lineup featured no players above 6-7, with Butler the tallest at small forward. The Warriors’ power forward, Moody, is listed at 6-5, and Green plays small-ball center at 6-6.

In the first half, NBA size clearly mattered. The Magic outrebounded the Warriors 24-16 and dominated the paint, outscoring Golden State 30-18. But the Warriors made key adjustments after the break.

Coach Steve Kerr inserted 7-foot Quinten Post into the lineup alongside Green, sending the struggling Moody to the bench. The switch paid off immediately, with Post scoring 10 points in the first three minutes of the third quarter. He finished with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including two 3-pointers.

Moody’s three-pointer at the end of the third quarter stopped a 10-0 Magic run and shifted the momentum back in the Warriors’ favor. Kerr’s halftime change, pairing Post with Green, was the perfect adjustment to match up with Orlando’s size, and it ultimately helped the Warriors pull off the comeback.

For the Magic, it was a hard-fought loss, but Curry’s brilliance made all the difference in the end.

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