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

The NBA had two 50-point scorers in lost efforts 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. Luka Doncic of the Mavericks finished with 42 points in the win.

“Nikola comes out and does his job,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “He doesn’t care. We lost the game. That’s all he’s going to care about.”

Curry’s 57-point night was the second-highest of his career, surpassed only by his 62-point game against Portland on Jan. 3.

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

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

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

That day he also decided on the 1977-1978 annotation title; Thompson was 73 before the Spurs played that day, and Gervin knew he needed at least 58 to win the crown all season.

There have been five 50-point efforts in the NBA so far this season, including Curry’s season high, 62 points in the win over Portland.

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

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