On January 8th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the Warriors suffer a defeat against the Heat, resulting in their second consecutive loss. Curry had an impressive performance with 22 shots made, 11 of which were successful, including 8 out of 17 three-pointers, scoring a total of 31 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal. However, he conceded defeat 3 minutes and 5 seconds early, at one point smashing a chair in anger due to frustration. This marks the 86th time in his career that he has hit at least 8 three-pointers in a single game, breaking the historical record.
In the first quarter, Curry quickly scored a three-pointer, followed by a mid-range shot behind a screen, and another accurate three-pointer, accumulating 8 points to lead the team in surpassing the score. The Heat responded with an 8-0 run, and the two teams remained neck and neck. However, in the final stages of the first quarter, the Warriors were hit by Deng Luo's consecutive two three-pointers, leaving them trailing by 6 points at 23-29. In this quarter, Curry made 3 out of 7 shots, scoring 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
In the second quarter, Curry continued his form by hitting two more three-pointers to lead the team's counterattack. However, the Warriors suddenly lost momentum, allowing the Heat to extend their lead with a 10-point run. During this period, Curry was visibly frustrated after a passing error, returning to the bench and smashing a chair in anger, shaking his head repeatedly in disappointment. After Curry left the court, the Warriors remained behind. When he returned, he hit two more three-pointers, but the Heat maintained their offensive pressure, ending the half with the Warriors trailing 48-61, a deficit of 13 points.
In the first half, Curry played for 16 minutes, making 7 out of 12 shots, including 6 out of 10 three-pointers, scoring a total of 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks. His teammates, however, only managed to make 2 out of 17 three-point attempts collectively, a significant factor contributing to the double-digit halftime deficit.
In the second half, Curry only scored 3 points in the third quarter with 1 out of 4 shots made. However, Hield, Schroder, and TJD stepped up to contribute, helping the Warriors close the gap by 7 points in a single quarter, finishing the third quarter trailing by just 6 points. Finally, someone came forward to support Curry.
In the final quarter, Curry hit a step-back three-pointer and executed a dazzling layup with a dribble drive, leading the team on an 8-3 run to trail by only 1 point. However, the Heat then hit three consecutive three-pointers to stabilize the situation, putting the Warriors back in a double-digit deficit. Curry returned to the court after resting for just over a minute, but the Warriors continued to miss shots, and the gap widened. With 3 minutes and 5 seconds remaining in the game, Coach Kerr called a timeout, and Curry and his teammates conceded defeat early. As Curry left the court, his face was filled with helplessness and disappointment.
