Curry Passes Duncan On All-Time Scoring List In Warriors Loss

As Stephen Curry continues to add to his Hall of Fame résumé, another milestone arrived Friday night, this time placing him ahead of one of the game’s all-time greats. The veteran guard moved past Tim Duncan on the NBA’s career scoring list, marking yet another achievement in a career defined by historic shooting and consistency.

The moment came during the Golden State Warriors matchup against the Sacramento Kings, a game that carried implications for postseason positioning. Despite entering his 17th season and dealing with injuries throughout the year, Curry has remained a central figure for Golden State.

Coming into the contest, Curry had 26,493 career points, just three shy of tying Duncan and four away from surpassing him. The proximity to the milestone added intrigue to a game that already held significance for a Warriors team preparing for the play-in tournament.

While Curry ultimately reached the mark, the night underscored the dual reality of the Warriors’ season—individual brilliance paired with team inconsistency, as Golden State fell in a tightly contested road loss.

1. A Historic Climb Up The Scoring Ladder

Curry’s ascent past Duncan came in the second half, fittingly via his signature weapon. A 3-pointer from the top of the key pushed him beyond the Spurs legend and into 22nd place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. The shot served as a reminder of how Curry has redefined scoring in the modern era. Unlike many players above him on the list, his path has been built largely on perimeter shooting, revolutionizing offensive strategies league-wide. Although he finished the game with a modest 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting, the significance of the moment outweighed the stat line. Passing a player like Duncan—widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history—highlights the longevity and evolution of Curry’s game. Now firmly in the top 25 scorers of all time, Curry continues to climb, with more milestones likely ahead as he closes another productive season.

2. Balanced Effort Falls Short

Despite Curry’s milestone, Golden State could not secure the win. The loss came despite a balanced scoring effort that saw six Warriors players reach double figures. Brandin Podziemski led the team with an impressive 30-point performance, showcasing efficiency from both the field and the free-throw line. His scoring provided a major boost for a Warriors offense that has leaned on younger contributors at times this season. Additional support came from De’Anthony Melton, who added 17 points, while Kristaps Porzingis contributed 11 points and seven rebounds. Veterans Al Horford and Gary Payton II chipped in with 10 points each. Even with the distributed scoring, Golden State struggled to close out the game, highlighting ongoing issues with consistency and execution in tight situations.

3. Play-In Position Secured, Focus Turns Forward

The defeat dropped the Warriors to 37-44 on the season, though their place in the Western Conference play-in picture is already secured. They currently hold the 10th spot, sitting above the New Orleans Pelicans and the Memphis Grizzlies. However, the standings remain competitive, with Golden State trailing the Los Angeles Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers. Positioning could still influence their path in the postseason, making their final regular-season game crucial. The Warriors will close out their schedule on the road against the Clippers, a matchup that could serve as both a tune-up and a test before the play-in tournament begins. As the postseason approaches, the team will look to build momentum and capitalize on the experience of its core, led by Curry, whose individual milestones continue even as the team searches for collective success.