Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors welcomed back Stephen Curry, and the superstar guard delivered a brilliant performance in his return from injury, nearly willing his team to victory before falling 117-116 to the Houston Rockets on a late game-winner by Alperen Şengün.

Curry started slow in the opening quarter but quickly found his rhythm across the final three periods, igniting the Warriors’ comeback effort. With Golden State trailing, Curry orchestrated a pivotal 15-3 run, attacking the rim and knocking down timely shots to keep the game within reach.

In the closing moments, Curry took over. He drove for a layup with 1:27 remaining to cut the deficit to one, then answered Şengün’s and-one with a difficult three-pointer with 57 seconds left, repeatedly dragging the Warriors back into contention.

Coming off the bench, Curry logged 26 minutes and 8 seconds and finished with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, along with 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and a +12 plus-minus. He also reached a major milestone, becoming the 26th player in NBA history to record 9,000 career field goals made.

After the game, head coach Steve Kerr praised his star’s return, saying, “Steph looked amazing… His rhythm is our rhythm,” highlighting the immediate impact Curry brings whenever he steps back on the floor.