LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Stephen Curry drilled the game-winning three-pointer in the Golden State Warriors’ thrilling 113-112 National Basketball Association victory on Saturday over former teammate Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns.
Curry made nine three-pointers on the way to 30 points, but the 35-year-old star saved his best for last.
In a back-and-forth battle that featured 22 lead changes, the Warriors trailed 112-110 with 3.3 seconds remaining when Curry caught an awkward inbounds pass from Brandin Podziemski, turned and unleashed a long trey that put Golden State ahead with seven-tenths of a second remaining.
It was just one more signature moment for Curry, a four-time champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player with the Warriors, who are struggling this season to maintain their status as Western Conference contenders.
Devin Booker scored 32 points to lead the Suns, with his turnaround jump shot with 35.6 seconds left to play giving Phoenix a 112-110 lead. Durant added 24 but on the Suns’ last-gasp inbounds play he couldn’t get a shot up.
Elsewhere the Dallas Mavericks, fueled by 32 points from Luka Doncic and 25 from Kyrie Irving, routed the high-flying Oklahoma City Thunder 146-111, notching a fourth straight victory to match their longest winning streak of the NBA season.
Daniel Gafford added 19 points and nine rebounds as he made his Mavs debut along with P.J. Washington — both acquired at the trade deadline.
