Stephen Curry scores 57 points, but Golden State is overtaken by Luka Doncic and Mavs

The NBA had two 50-point markers in the efforts lost the same day only for the third time. Jokic scored 50 points in Denver’s loss to Sacramento, and Stephen Curry scored 57 points when Golden State fell to Dallas. Mavericks’ Luka Doncic finished with 42 points.

“Nikola is coming out and doing his job,” said Denver coach Michael Malone. “He doesn’t care. I lost the game. That’s all he’ll care about.”

Curry’s 57-point night was the second most of his career, beaten only by his 62-point game against Portland on January 3rd.

“He never played better,” Warriors manager Steve Kerr said after Saturday’s game. “We’re talking about a two-time, three-time champion MVP, and he’s never looked better.”

Prior to Saturday, the most recent day of multiple 50-point loss efforts was November 18, 2019, when Damian Lillard scored 60 in Portland’s loss to Brooklyn and D’Angelo Russell scored 52 for the Warriors back in Minnesota.

The only other time that happened was on April 9, 1978, the last day of the regular season. George Gervin scored 63 for San Antonio against the New Orleans Jazz, and David Thompson scored 73 for Denver against Detroit.

On that day, he also decided on the 1977-78 scoring title; Thompson was 73 before Spurs played that day, and Gervin knew he needed at least 58 to win the crown for the entire season.

So far this season there have been five 50-point efforts in the NBA, including the 62 points of the Curry season in a win over Portland.

Of those 50-point nights, three, including Saturday, had losses. Bradley Beal had 60 players on January 6 in Washington’s loss to Philadelphia.

Curry’s 62 points against the Blazers were a victory, as was Fred VanVleet’s 54-point effort for Toronto against Orlando on Tuesday.