Golden State Warrior guard Stephen Curry (30) led with 40 points against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclay Center in Brooklyn on Thu Mar 6, 2025

By Jessica Kwong

BROOKLYN, NY. — Stephen Curry scored 40 points against the Brooklyn Nets for the first time in 25 career games against them and led the Golden State Warriors to a 121-119 victory at Barclays Center on Thursday night.

It wasn’t until after the Warriors got the win that put them 4-1 in the five-game road trip that Curry realized his accomplishment – one that puts him one step away from a new personal record.

“Naw I didn’t know until after. When I had 38, two people came up and said, get a layup or something, but they didn’t say why,” said Curry. “I found out after.”

Golden State trailed 27-5 early on and Curry changed the tide by making a fadeaway buzzer-beater from the Nets’ half court logo at the end of the first half. Some of his teammates were only slightly surprised that it went in.

“He just had one in Orlando, so I think every shot’s going in anyway,” said Gary Payton II. “So let’s head into the locker room, regroup, let’s come back out for the second half. And you know, he gives us those sparks at the end of the half. And we needed that win so, it’s nice.”

The Warriors started the second half only five points behind and outscored the Nets 31-29 in the third quarter and 35-30 in the fourth. Head coach Steve Kerr called it a “very professional win to come back from 22 down right out of the gates”.

“I give them credit, they were just amazing that first quarter,” Kerr said of the Nets. “They took it to us and so for our guys to get settled and make a good comeback and take control of the game late, it was a hell of an effort and a great trip.”

Jimmy Butler contributed 25 points and six assists. The Warriors are 10-1 since he joined the lineup, and the chemistry they had with him in their 114-102 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden continued at Barclays Center.

Brooklyn trailed 97-91 with 7:30 to go in the game and were unable to close in. The Nets (21-41) suffered their sixth straight loss as the crowd chanted “MVP! MVP! MVP!” for Curry, making it feel like a home game for Golden State.

The Warriors (35-28) head back to Chase Center for a seven-game homestand that starts on Saturday hosting the Detroit Pistons. That happens to be the only team in the league that Curry has not scored at least 40 points against.

“He’s got one more, one more on the hit list and then he has everybody,” Payton said. “So hopefully we get that done for him.”

Asked if he will aim to get the job done against Detroit, Curry answered humbly.

“You know – maybe you don’t know me. I don’t ever think that way. I play the game the way I want to,” he said. “Obviously it’s on my mind so I won’t shy away from it, but you don’t sabotage a game just to score 40. You try to win, no matter what it takes.”

Asked if Curry will make the milestone on Saturday, Draymond Green laughed and said: “Let’s not piss the Pistons off.”

Tip-off on Saturday is at 5:30 p.m. PT.