Brooklyn Nets Egor Demin (8) fights for the basketball with the Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (30) in first half action at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn on Mon Dec 29, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

BROOKLYN, NY. — Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors (17-16) to a 120-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets (10-20) at Barclays Center on Monday night – while passing Kevin Garnett to reach No. 21 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Curry said he could speak about each player he has passed on the league’s career points leaderboard, but “at this stage it’s just all icons, all legends, all guys that I loved watching play, define the era that they played in”. 

“So to pass those type of individuals and especially a guy like KD – I mean KG – a champ and what his career meant, is special for sure,” said Curry. “So each guy I pass, I’m honored.”

Curry finished with 27 points and Jimmy Butler with 21 to give the Warriors their fourth win in five contests, and snap the Nets’ three-game winning streak. 

The Warriors had a lackluster first quarter and at one point were down by as many as 13 points. But they stayed in it and captured a 2-point lead at the half. 

In the third quarter, Curry got into this rhythm and scored 10 straight points including two 3-pointers, a field goal and two free throws, to put Golden State up 89-85.

“They got off to such a hot start and kind of picked apart our zone. They made a couple of late 3’s, late shot clock 3’s early,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.

“Once we switched to our man-to-man, we had pretty good attention on Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. even though both guys had it going a little but, I thought in the fourth quarter our attention to Porter Jr. in particular was really good.” 

The Nets (10-20) went on a 8-0 run with less than five minutes left in the fourth quarter and trailed 107-103 after Terance Mann made two of three free throws.

With less than a minute left in the game, Curry went to the free throw line and made the first to “MVP” chants – but surprisingly missed the second.

“Probably one of the few times that I had the MVP chant and I missed the last free throw, hitting the stride a little bit,” Curry joked.

“But I’m definitely grateful for it (MVP chants), it keeps you going, it picks you up even on a back-to-back when it might be a little bit tough to find some energy, for a road crowd to give you that, you feed off it, it’s special.”

Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 11 points and De’Anthony Melton had 10 to help boost the Warriors after their overtime loss to Toronto on Sunday.

“I think just with the back-to-back, just kind of gotta get yourself going,” said Jackson-Davis.

“I didn’t play last game so I felt like I could help bring the energy up, just go out there. It starts on the defensive end of the floor, so good stops and start running, and see if our teammates can build off that.”

The Warriors (17-16) are now 7-12 in away games. They continue on their three-game road trip on Wednesday, facing the Charlotte Hornets (11-21) at 10 a.m. PT.