Stephen Curry Basketball Games: 10 Unforgettable Performances Every Fan Must Watch

I remember watching Stephen Curry sink that impossible three-pointer against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016, and thinking I was witnessing basketball history in real time. That's the thing about Curry - he doesn't just play basketball, he reinvents it before our eyes. As a lifelong NBA analyst and someone who's studied countless players, I can confidently say we've never seen anyone quite like him. His former coach Mark Jackson once remarked, "Sabi ko sa kanya after the game just stay humble kasi matagal pa tong season na 'to," which roughly translates to emphasizing humility through the long NBA season - advice Curry has embodied throughout his career while delivering some of the most spectacular performances in modern sports.

Let's start with that February 27, 2016 game against OKC that still gives me chills thinking about it. Curry dropped 46 points, but the real story was that 32-foot game-winning buzzer-beater in overtime. The Warriors were down by 4 with under 30 seconds left in OT, and Curry somehow manufactured a win from what looked like certain defeat. What people forget is that he was playing through discomfort that night, having tweaked his ankle earlier in the game. The sheer audacity to take that shot from near the logo, in an opposing arena, during a regular-season game - that's Curry's legacy in one single play. I've rewatched that shot probably fifty times, and each viewing reveals something new about his incredible shooting mechanics and unshakable confidence.

Then there's Game 4 of the 2015 Finals against Cleveland, where he put up 37 points on 66% shooting from the field. This performance doesn't get talked about enough in my opinion. The Cavaliers were playing incredible defense, but Curry just dismantled them with a masterclass in off-ball movement and quick-release threes. I remember thinking midway through the third quarter that Cleveland had no answer for his constant motion - he'd sprint off screens, change direction abruptly, and create just enough separation to get his shot off. His plus-minus that night was +17, which honestly undersells his impact because the game was closer than the final score suggests.

Speaking of playoff performances, we can't skip his 2013 coming-out party against the Denver Nuggets. In Game 4 of that first-round series, Curry exploded for 22 points in the third quarter alone, finishing with 31 points and 7 assists. This was before he'd won any MVPs, when people still questioned whether his style could work in the playoffs. I attended that game in person, and the energy in the arena shifted permanently during that third-quarter explosion. You could feel the moment when Denver's defense broke - their players started overreacting to every fake, closing out too hard, and leaving driving lanes open. That series was the first time I truly believed Curry could lead a team to championship contention.

The 2022 Finals clincher against Boston deserves its own chapter in basketball history. With the championship on the line, Curry delivered 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists while shooting 6-of-11 from three-point range. What impressed me most wasn't the scoring but how he controlled the game's tempo. Boston tried everything - switching defenses, double teams, even playing drop coverage - but Curry dissected each approach with surgical precision. This performance cemented his legacy in ways I don't think people fully appreciate yet. Winning that fourth championship, especially after the doubters had written him off, demonstrated his incredible resilience and growth as a complete player.

His 62-point game against Portland in January 2021 was Curry at his most unstoppable. He shot 18-of-31 from the field and 8-of-16 from three, adding 5 rebounds and 4 assists. I've never seen a defense look more helpless than Portland's that night. They tried every coverage imaginable - blitzing pick-and-rolls, switching everything, even face-guarding Curry 30 feet from the basket - but nothing worked. What made this performance special was that it came during what many considered a "down year" for the Warriors, with Curry single-handedly keeping them in playoff contention. The man was 32 years old at the time, putting up numbers that would be impressive for a player in their prime.

Game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals against Houston might be Curry's most underappreciated masterpiece. After struggling through three quarters, he scored 14 points in the fourth while playing through a knee injury. The Rockets had missed 27 consecutive three-point attempts, and Golden State desperately needed someone to seize control. Curry did exactly that, attacking the basket with purpose and hitting crucial mid-range jumpers when the three-ball wasn't falling. This performance demonstrated his growth beyond being just a shooter - he found other ways to impact the game when his signature weapon wasn't at its sharpest.

The February 2016 game against Orlando where he scored 51 points in just 34 minutes was just ridiculous. He made 10 three-pointers that night, many from well beyond the arc, and sat out the entire fourth quarter because the game was so out of hand. I remember watching this game with fellow basketball analysts, and we all just laughed at some of the shots he made. There was one particular three from about 28 feet where he caught the ball, turned, and released in one fluid motion before the defense could even react. The Magic players' reactions told the whole story - they knew they were witnessing something supernatural.

His 54-point explosion at Madison Square Garden in 2013 was the performance that first made me realize Curry was destined for greatness. Though the Warriors lost that game, Curry announced himself to the basketball world with 11 three-pointers and incredible shot-making throughout. There's something about MSG that brings out the best in players, and Curry treated the New York crowd to a shooting display they'll never forget. I've spoken with several Knicks fans who attended that game, and they all say the same thing - they weren't even mad about losing because they'd witnessed history.

The 2021 play-in tournament game against the Lakers showcased Curry's competitiveness despite the loss. He finished with 37 points against one of the league's best defenses, carrying an otherwise limited Warriors roster to the brink of victory. What stays with me about that game is how exhausted Curry looked by the end - he'd given absolutely everything, playing 43 minutes and taking on the entire offensive burden. Sometimes a player's best performances don't result in wins, and this was one of those cases where Curry's brilliance transcended the final score.

Finally, we have to mention his 47-point performance against Sacramento in April 2021, where he basically willed the Warriors into the play-in tournament. He shot 11-of-17 from three-point range that night, many of them contested, late-clock attempts that had no business going in. The Kings tried multiple defenders, different defensive schemes, but Curry was simply in one of those zones where the basket must have looked like the ocean. I've charted hundreds of NBA games, and this was one of the most efficient high-volume shooting performances I've ever seen.

Looking back at these ten performances, what strikes me is how Curry has maintained his humility while achieving so much, embodying that advice to "stay humble through the long season." His game has evolved from pure shooter to complete offensive engine, yet the joy and creativity remain unchanged. These performances aren't just statistical marvels - they're chapters in the story of how one player transformed basketball forever. For any true fan of the game, watching these performances provides a masterclass in shooting, movement, and basketball IQ that we may not see again for generations.