Night three of the 2025 NBA Cup saw some epic action in both the East and West as group play approaches the halfway point. But nothing is more epic than what Stephen Curry did.
We're at the point where it seems like we'll never get tired of watching the Golden State Warriors star come alive all the way. On Friday, the San Antonio Spurs became its victims. Damage: 49 points on 16 of 26 shots. In doing so, he tied Michael Jordan for the most points in games since turning 30, finishing 44th.
Advertising
Only one other Warrior, Jimmy Butler, scored more than 10 points.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Spurs stymied the Warriors with a 10-point lead, but it turned out to be just a setup.
The longest game of the night was in Dallas, where the Los Angeles Clippers outlasted a still shorthanded Dallas Mavericks team in double overtime thanks to James Harden's 41-point triple-double. Los Angeles led by 13 points in the fourth quarter, but a late collapse sent the game into overtime.
Advertising
The game appeared to be on the verge of ending in regulation overtime when Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford was called for goaltending on Harden, but an NBA ball-tracking check showed the ball was still rising.
It was just an impressive block.
This prevented Dallas' defeat, but did not save it. The lineup, which featured 28 points each from Najee Marshall and D'Angelo Russell off the bench, fell behind early in double overtime and did not come back this time.
Advertising
The other overtime game was an epic one between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Hornets, with eight different Bucks scoring in double figures to counter a pair of 32-point nights from Miles Bridges and rookie Con Kneuppel, the latter of whom hit the game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime.
However, just like the Clippers' win, the Bucks shrugged off the potential gut punch and won big in overtime. They are now 10-0 in NBA sectional play in three years of in-season tournament play. Assistant coach Darwin Ham, the former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, is also still undefeated overall, which is one of the funniest stories about the event.
Advertising
NBA Cup 2025: schedule, format and new courts for this year's postseason tournament
In regulation games, the Detroit Pistons won their ninth straight game, 114–105, over the Philadelphia 76ers, despite being without several key players. Cade Cunningham (hip), Tobias Harris (ankle), Ausar Thompson (ankle) and Jalen Duren (ankle) remained sidelined, but players like Javonte Green (team-high 21 points, nine rebounds) and Denise Jenkins (19 points, eight assists) stepped up.
Dunk of the night
Advertising
Dunk of the Night (edited by Victor Vembanyama)
NBA Cup 2 match scoreboard
NBA Cup standings
East, Group A
-
Toronto Raptors (2-0, +23)
-
Cleveland Cavaliers (1-1, +23)
-
Indiana Pacers (0-1, -20)
-
Washington Wizards (0-1, -34)
East, Group B
-
Detroit Pistons (2-0, +27)
-
Boston Celtics (1-1, -12)
-
Philadelphia 76ers (0-2, -10)
East Group C
-
Milwaukee Bucks (2-0, +16)
-
New York Knicks (1-1, -2)
-
Charlotte Hornets (0-2, -18)
West Group A
-
Minnesota Timberwolves (2-0, +54)
-
Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0, +31)
-
Sacramento Kings (0-2, -45)
West, Group B
-
Los Angeles Lakers (2-0 +19)
-
Los Angeles Clippers (2-0, +2)
-
Memphis Grizzlies (1-1, +9)
-
New Orleans Pelicans (0-2, -14)
-
Dallas Mavericks (0-2, -16)
West, Group C
-
Denver Nuggets (1-1, +23)
-
Houston Rockets (1-1, +13)
-
Portland Trail Blazers (1-1, +13)
-
San Antonio Spurs (1-1, +10)
-
Golden State Warriors (1-1, -24)
