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How Steph avoids frustration over his foul call ‘reality'

How Steph avoids frustration over his foul call ‘reality' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Even after an incredible night for Steph Curry in which he had 52 points and 12 3-pointers, it’s hard not to argue he deserved more in the Warriors’ 134-125 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night at FedExForum.

The discourse over Curry’s lack of foul calls isn’t new, but it resurfaced during a physical game in Memphis, which featured some debatable non-calls involving the Golden State star.

On “Warriors Postgame Live,” Curry explained how he avoids becoming frustrated over questionable officiating — and still manages to put up all-time performances in the meantime.

“It’s my reality. I’ve been in this situation for a long time,” Curry told Warriors broadcasters Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike. “It’s like a playoff game. You have to adjust to how the game’s being called.

“You can have a reaction, but you don’t want to let it distract you from what the task is. So I think trying to stay as even-keeled as possible — that doesn’t mean you’re passive or giving into it — you’re kind of fighting through it and not looking to get bailed out even though you feel like it’s not going your way.”

Curry went 8 for 8 from the free-throw line on Tuesday night, but as Azubuike noted, he arguably could have earned a few more trips to the charity stripe.

Nonetheless, the two-time MVP persisted with, arguably, his best game of the 2024-25 NBA season, adding 10 rebounds, eight assists and five steals on top of his absurd shooting performance.

If there’s a bright side to the eternal Curry foul debate, it’s that the addition of forward Jimmy Butler has significantly helped Curry’s free-throw opportunities. Before Butler joined the Warriors on Feb. 8, Curry averaged only 3.4 free-throw attempts per game, per StatMuse.

But since then, that number has nearly doubled, as the veteran has earned six attempts at the line on average in his last 21 games. That mark would be a career-best for Curry over an entire season.

Of course, while it is positive progress, it probably is safe to say Curry (and Dub Nation) would like a few more calls to go his way, especially amid a tense playoff race.

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How Steph avoids frustration over his foul call ‘reality'

How Steph avoids frustration over his foul call ‘reality' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Even after an incredible night for Steph Curry in which he had 52 points and 12 3-pointers, it’s hard not to argue he deserved more in the Warriors’ 134-125 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night at FedExForum.

The discourse over Curry’s lack of foul calls isn’t new, but it resurfaced during this physical game featuring some debatable non-calls involving the Golden State star.

On “Warriors Postgame Live,” Curry explained how he avoids becoming frustrated by officiating — and still manages to put up all-time performances in the meantime.

“It’s my reality. I’ve been in this situation for a long time,” Curry told Warriors broadcasters Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike. “It’s like a playoff game. You have to adjust to how the game’s being called.

“You can have a reaction, but you don’t want to let it distract you from what the task is. So I think trying to stay as even-keeled as possible — that doesn’t mean you’re passive or giving into it — you’re kind of fighting through it and not looking to get bailed out even though you feel like it’s not going your way.”

Curry went 8 for 8 from the free-throw line on Tuesday night, but as Azubuike noted, he arguably could have earned a few more trips to the charity stripe.

Nonetheless, the two-time MVP persisted with arguably his best game of the 2024-25 NBA season, adding 10 rebounds, eight assists and five steals on top of his absurd shooting performance.

If there’s a bright side to the eternal Steph Curry foul debate, it’s that the addition of forward Jimmy Butler has significantly helped Curry’s free-throw opportunities. Before Butler joined the Warriors on Feb. 8, Curry averaged only 3.4 free-throw attempts per game, per StatMuse.

But since then, that number has nearly doubled, as the veteran has earned six attempts at the line on average in his last 21 games. That mark would be a career-best for Curry over an entire season.

Of course, while it is positive progress, it probably is safe to say Curry (and Dub Nation) would like a few more calls to go his way, especially amid a tense playoff race.

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Steph likes leading with Butler, believes they're ‘great' Warriors duo

Steph likes leading with Butler, believes they're ‘great' Warriors duo originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s nearly impossible to argue that the Warriors’ Steph Curry–Jimmy Butler duo hasn’t worked.

With the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference on the line, the star guard and wing erupted for a combined 79 points in Golden State’s crucial 134-125 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday at FedExForum. 

Immediately after the win, Curry explained to Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike on “Warriors Postgame Live” why he enjoys forming a tandem with the six-time NBA All-Star, who was acquired by Golden State from the Miami Heat at the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

“That’s why the trade makes so much sense for us and why the results have been there ever since,” Curry said. “It’s a great tandem in terms of what you said [are] two different styles.” 

Over the past two months, coach Steve Kerr and Co. have benefited from Curry and Butler’s contrasting yet compatible skill sets. 

As the Chef erupted for a whopping 52 points and made 12 3-pointers, Butler leveraged his two-way force, registering 27 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Butler didn’t forget his craftiness to draw fouls either, ending 12 of 12 on free throws.

“When we’re locked in and have good spacing, he demands a lot of attention,” Curry added. “He always makes the right play. Like you said, he can get to the line because he’s such a presence.

“He knocks them down, and, even on the defensive end, the steal he had on Ja down the stretch was high-IQ basketball.”

In what was a playoff-like atmosphere, Curry, very much in line with his standard, delivered an instant-classic performance against a sturdy Memphis defense. 

But as the 37-year-old star echoed, crunchtime basketball is that much easier with a co-general like Butler by his side.

“We love playing meaningful games,” Curry concluded. “Coach said it before the game: this is a meaningful game. 

“The rest of them down the season are going to be like this. So for us to be able to step up the way we did [which was] a total team effort. But I like me and Jimmy leading it.”

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Steph likes leading with Butler, believes they're ‘great' Warriors duo

Steph likes leading with Butler, believes they're ‘great' Warriors duo originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s nearly impossible to argue that the Warriors’ Steph Curry–Jimmy Butler duo hasn’t worked.

With the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference on the line, the star guard and wing erupted for a combined 79 points in Golden State’s crucial 134-125 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday at FedExForum. 

Immediately after the win, Curry explained to Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike on “Warriors Postgame Live” why he enjoys forming a tandem with the six-time NBA All-Star, who was acquired by Golden State from the Miami Heat at the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

“That’s why the trade makes so much sense for us and why the results have been there ever since,” Curry said. “It’s a great tandem in terms of what you said [are] two different styles.” 

Over the past two months, coach Steve Kerr and Co. have benefited from Curry and Butler’s contrasting yet compatible skill sets. 

As the Chef erupted for a whopping 52 points and made 12 3-pointers, Butler leveraged his two-way force, registering 27 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Butler didn’t forget his craftiness to draw fouls either, ending 12 of 12 on free throws.

“When we’re locked in and have good spacing, he demands a lot of attention,” Curry added. “He always makes the right play. Like you said, he can get to the line because he’s such a presence.

“He knocks them down, and, even on the defensive end, the steal he had on Ja [Morant] down the stretch was high-IQ basketball.”

In what was a playoff-like atmosphere, Curry, very much in line with his standard, delivered an instant-classic performance against a sturdy Memphis defense. 

But as the 37-year-old star echoed, crunchtime basketball is that much easier with a co-general like Butler by his side.

“We love playing meaningful games,” Curry concluded. “Coach said it before the game: this is a meaningful game. 

“The rest of them down the season are going to be like this. So for us to be able to step up the way we did [which was] a total team effort. But I like me and Jimmy leading it.”

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In Warriors' time of need, Steph dons cape for crucial win

In Warriors' time of need, Steph dons cape for crucial win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

For all that Jimmy Butler III brings to the Warriors, and his impact is immeasurable, they were reminded Tuesday night that the duration of their NBA playoff run will be dictated mostly by Stephen Curry.

Butler was superb in a 134-125 win over the always plucky Memphis Grizzlies. In playoff environment at FedExForum, he delivered an efficient 27 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. He was plus-6 over a team-high 38 minutes.

Butler was, to be clear, a fantastic co-pilot.

Curry, however, was at his cosmic best in Golden State’s most consequential game against an opponent battling them for playoff positioning. When the final buzzer sounded, Curry submitted a 52-point performance that surely was heard around the NBA.

“The guy is 37 years old,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the game. “It’s incredible. Fifty-two points, with people draped all over him, all game long. The conditioning, the skill, the audacity, the belief. It’s just incredible to watch Steph at work. I can’t believe he’s still doing this at this age, but he’s put the work in, and he’s still got it.”

Curry moved past the late, great Jerry West into 25th place on the career scoring list. His 19 first-quarter points ensured a strong start for Golden State. His 12 3-pointers fractured the Memphis defense for his teammates. His eight assists kept them alert and active. His five steals were a pointed message to his team and to the Grizzlies. His 10 rebounds were a presentation of heart.

“You’ve got to remember to play the game when you’re sitting there watching him do stuff like that,” Moses Moody said. “He’s coming off those screens, finding any inch of space, pulling and knocking it down. That’s a special performance from a special player.”

The Warriors approached this game with the proper mentality, treating it as a playoff game – because it was in a significant way. They were, at tipoff, in sixth place in the Western Conference, right behind Memphis. The victory flipped their positions.

Curry understood the assignment. He scored only two points, shooting 0-of-7 from the field, the last time he was in his building on Dec. 19. The circumstances for this game required a profoundly different performance from the man who has been Golden State’s leader since 2012.

“I’ll be honest: I actually forgot that fact,” said Curry, who posted his first career 50-point, 10-rebound double-double. “I was more focused on how big this game was for us.

“The intentionality that we came out with in the first quarter was just a great game plan. To understand how they guard us.  I thought about their style; they try to junk up the game on defense with top-locks and try to send me into paint traffic and all that. We had a counter for that to start the game. But other than that, it was just trying to win a big game and embracing the moment.”

When Curry made his first six shots, four of which were 3-pointers, it was apparent this could be a special night.

Draymond Green, who posted his first triple-double of the 2024-25 NBA season (13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds), could only marvel at the spectacle of his longtime teammate.

“Incredible,” Green said. “What a performance. He’s locked in, though. He had a great shootaround this morning. He was locked in. You can always see a look in his eyes when he’s focused. He wanted this one bad, and he played like it.

“It was beautiful to see. We needed it for sure.”

Curry’s 52 points came on 16-of-31 shooting from the field, including 12 of 20 from beyond the arc. His first three quarters were particularly searing, with 45 points coming on 14-of-23 and 11-of-15 shooting. Aside from Butler, Curry wasn’t getting much offensive help. Indeed, Warriors not named Curry or Butler combined for 14-of-44 shooting (31.8 percent) through three quarters.

Seeing so many shots bounce off the rim was kind of a cue for Curry. For them to be successful, he pretty much had to go into hero mode. He has gone there many times before, and he’ll need to go there many more times before taking his sneakers off for the last time.

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Philadelphia hopes to re-sign Quentin Grimes, if they can afford to

You have to look hard for bright spots in this Philadelphia 76ers season, but Quentin Grimes is one of them. Since being traded to Philadelphia from Dallas as part of the Caleb Martin deal, Grimes has averaged 21.8 points a game while shooting 39.2% from 3, plus adding 5 rebounds and 4 assists a night.

Grimes is a restricted free agent this offseason and the 76ers hope to re-sign him, reports Marc Stein in his weekly newsletter.

The challenge is how much Grimes could make and if Philadelphia can afford it.

Grimes' market is tough to predict. Keith Smith at Spotac projects a four-year, $100 million contract, while I think that sounds high, something close to $20 million a season is a fair bet on the potential of the 24-year-old who has shown he is more than a 3&D guy. That said, only Brooklyn has the cap space to max Grimes out, and that's not the direction the Nets are looking, and it's hard to see another team coming in with an offer that Philadelphia would not match.

That said, the 76ers have their own challenges. Philadelphia is on the hook for $149.1 million next season for just their big three of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, plus Jared McCain. That leaves the Sixers about $5 million below the salary cap number with at least 10 roster spots to fill. The real numbers to watch are the luxury-tax line (an estimated $187.9 million) and the second tax apron ($207.8 million).

Things add up quickly. The 76ers have tanked of late in hopes of retaining their first-round draft pick (they owe it to Oklahoma City, top-six protected). If Philly lands in the top six, that rookie will cost at least $8 million and up to as much as $13 million next season. Also, Grimes is not the only player the 76ers want to bring back. There is Kelly Oubre, who is expected to opt out of his $8.4 million and become a free agent, as well as unrestricted free agent Guerschon Yabusele.

The reality: Philly is likely only going to be able to bring back two of Grimes, Oubre, and Yabusele. Maybe things shake out differently, but with a top-heavy roster, it will be difficult for Daryl Morey to fill out the roster with quality players and stay below the aprons.

Whatever the 76ers choose, expect some team to step up and pay Grimes this season. The trade from Dallas to Philly could not have worked out much better for him.

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3 observations after Sixers set NBA starting lineups record in defeat to Knicks

3 observations after Sixers set NBA starting lineups record in defeat to Knicks  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK — The Sixers tied their season-high losing streak and dipped to 30 games under .500 Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Their ninth consecutive loss was a 105-91 decision to the Knicks.

Quentin Grimes had 26 points, five assists and three steals for the 23-53 Sixers.

The 48-27 Knicks’ top scorer was OG Anunoby with 27 points.

Eight Sixers were out with injuries. Tyrese Maxey (right finger sprain) hasn’t played since March 3.

“He did practice (Friday). It went just medium,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame of Maxey. “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, that was great’ … but he’s still working out today. He’ll work out tomorrow. And again, we’re hoping he feels a little bit better.

“He got a splint put on there and kind of liked it, but then it was bothering him post-practice a little bit. But again, we’re working him out and trying to get him back on the court.” 

The Knicks’ sidelined players included Jalen Brunson (right ankle sprain) and Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee soreness). 

The Sixers will return home and face the Bucks on Thursday night. Here are observations on their loss to the Knicks: 

Record-breaking night

The Sixers set a new NBA record before the game even tipped off. 

Through 76 games, the injury-cursed Sixers have used an unprecedented 52 starting lineups. Tuesday’s first unit was Grimes, Lonnie Walker IV, Justin Edwards, Ricky Council IV and Adem Bona. 

Lineup No. 52 was certainly not the Sixers’ best. Grimes turned the ball over on the game’s first possession and Mitchell Robinson threw down a put-back dunk on the other end. An Anunoby three-pointer gave the Knicks a 9-1 edge. 

There’s many, many factors that have contributed to the Sixers’ woefully disappointing season. The simplest one is perhaps most important: Their team health has been historically poor. 

Lowry back at it 

Kyle Lowry got his first action since Feb. 9, checking in with Jared Butler at the 5:19 mark of the first quarter.

The 39-year-old guard has struggled with a right hip injury this year, but he didn’t plan to end it on the bench. 

“He’s been dealing with this hip issue for most of the season,” Nurse said. “He’s been working hard to try to get back and it took some time. Recently, he’s been feeling better, and he wants to play.”

The Sixers made a 7-0 run late in the first quarter and Lowry had a solid stretch. He tossed a high-low assist to Bona and nabbed a steal when he ripped the ball out of Anunoby’s hands. Nurse had forecast short stints for Lowry, but he played nearly nine minutes before subbing out.

Lowry ended up logging 16 total minutes Tuesday. He had zero points on 0-for-1 shooting, two assists, two steals, a block and a rebound.

Lottery odds outlook

The Sixers only mustered 16 points in the second quarter.

They started 3 for 18 as a team from three-point range and committed 13 first-half turnovers. Giveaways by Edwards and Marcus Bagley late in the second quarter led to two straight New York fast-break dunks. The Sixers trailed by 17 points at halftime.

To the Sixers’ credit, they played a strong third quarter. Two Walker layups cut the Sixers’ deficit down to 67-62.

The Knicks restored a comfortable lead by early in the fourth quarter. Former Sixer Landry Shamet sunk wide-open jumpers, Anunoby slammed in a big and-one dunk on Walker, and New York cruised to victory.

For the Sixers, it’s yet another positive step in terms of NBA draft lottery odds. After Tuesday, here’s how things stand:

  • Fourth-best odds: Pelicans (21-54)
  • Fifth-best: Sixers (23-53)
  • Sixth-best: Nets (25-51)
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NBA futures betting 2025: Odds, expert picks, predictions including Evan Mobley for DPOY

It's nearing the end of the regular season and a few NBA awards are heating up like Defensive Player of the Year as Draymond Green, Evan Mobley, and Dyson Daniels battle it out in a three-player race.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Evan Mobley (+130)

Draymond Green surpassed Evan Mobley as the favorite for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, but I am not buying it.

There are multiple layers to why Green has surpassed Mobley, such as the Cavaliers' recent four-game losing streak that factored into the Thunder leapfrogging Cleveland for the NBA's best record, while the Warriors have gone 18-5 since acquiring Jimmy Butler, ranking second in defensive net rating during that span.

That acquisition of Butler is very important for this race. Before the trade, the Warriors were 25-26, and not one single person said Green should be the defensive player of the year or that he was in second place behind Victor Wembanyama before his injury. Since the trade, Golden State is 18-5 and in the sixth and final playoff spot -- avoiding the play-in.

Now, a lot of experts, and Green himself, are pushing this narrative that he should win his second DPOY. I don't think his self-campaign is enough and the Warriors' late resurgence makes him deserving. Butler is a much larger reason why Golden State is better defensively and winning games. Not Green, who was there for the 25-26 first-half run of the season and barely cracked the top 10-12 in defensive net rating.

Mobley leads over Green in defensive win shares (3.4 vs 3.0), net rating (108.3 vs 108.9), defensive rebounding percentage (24.3% vs 19.1%), block percentage (4.8%), blocks (106 vs 63) and team success (60-15 vs 43-31). Green does lead Mobley in steals (87 vs 53) and fouls (191 vs 129), while having one of his lowest usage rates in years (15.7%) compared to the opposite for Mobley (22.6%).

All glitter ain't gold and I think Green's DPOY campaign has a lot of glitter. Give me Mobley between +110 and +130 odds to win his first award.

Pick: Evan Mobley to win Defensive Player of the Year (1u)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Steph admits thinking about Klay's 3-point record before reality check

Steph admits thinking about Klay's 3-point record before reality check originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors star Steph Curry was a man on a mission in Golden State’s 134-125 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night at FedExForum.

The goal? Win the game — though he couldn’t help but think about former teammate Klay Thompson’s single-game 3-point record as he erupted for 52 points and 12 triples against Ja Morant and Co.

“That was the first two threes [attempts] of the fourth quarter; I definitely was thinking about Klay [setting the record] in Chicago,” Curry told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kelenna Azubuike and Bob Fitzgerald on “Warriors Postgame Live” after the win. “This is as close as I’ve been with that amount of time left. But then after that, reality check. We got to win the game, so you don’t want to sabotage anything.”

Curry came out firing against the Grizzlies with five 3-pointers in the first quarter. By halftime he had eight, but he only sank four more in the game’s final two quarters. But that certainly didn’t matter to the point guard as Golden State grabbed the victory and hurdled Memphis for the Western Conference’s No. 5 seed.

Thompson set a new single-game record with 14 3-pointers in Golden State’s game against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 29, 2018 — an accolade that previously had belonged to Curry, who made 13 triples on Nov. 7, 2016, against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Curry has come close to taking back his crown multiple times since 2018. Before Tuesday’s flurry, he also made 12 3-pointers during a 56-point outburst in the Warriors’ 121-115 comeback win over the Magic on Feb. 27 in Orlando. After that game, Curry admitted he still had his sights set on Thompson’s record.

“Still chasing the 14, though,” Curry told reporters after that game. “So [Thompson] still got me on that.”

It remains to be seen when the 3-point king will be back on top in that category. But for now, his former Splash Bro still has bragging rights over him.

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