Stephen Curry Had Another Bad Game in the Warriors’ 18-Point Loss to the Cavaliers: A Detailed Evaluation

The Golden State Warriors’ 18-point loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 30, 2024, served as yet another frustrating reminder that even the greatest players can have rough nights. Stephen Curry, who has been the face of the Warriors’ dynasty, endured one of his less effective performances in a season that has been filled with both triumph and inconsistency for him personally. While the team’s overall performance contributed to the loss, Curry’s struggles were glaring, leading many to question his effectiveness in this particular game. This evaluation will take a deep dive into Curry’s performance during this game and analyze both his struggles and the broader context surrounding his individual performance.

The Stat Line and Immediate Observations

Before diving into the deeper analysis, it’s important to take stock of Curry’s raw statistics from the game:

Points: 21 points on 7-of-19 shooting (36.8%)
3-Point Shooting: 4-of-13 (30.8%)
Assists: 5 assists
Rebounds: 3 rebounds
Turnovers: 4 turnovers
Plus/Minus: -16 (second-worst on the team)

While 21 points may seem decent on paper, it is far from Curry’s usual standards. The most glaring numbers are his shooting percentages, especially from beyond the arc. Known for his transcendent shooting ability, Curry’s off-night was highlighted by the fact that he missed 9 of his 13 three-point attempts. That type of shooting performance from the Warriors’ star is especially damaging considering the team relies heavily on his scoring from deep to keep defenses stretched and to create opportunities for the rest of the team.

Shot Selection and Execution

One of the key issues for Curry during this game was his shot selection. As a player known for his deep range and quick-release shots, Curry often takes difficult attempts, but they typically go in because of his unmatched ability to create space and make shots under pressure. However, against the Cavaliers, there was a sense that some of his attempts were forced, a product of the team’s stagnant offense and defensive pressure from Cleveland.

Curry often took contested threes early in the shot clock, seemingly feeling the weight of the team’s struggles on his shoulders. Several of these attempts were well beyond the arc and forced because of the Warriors’ inability to generate good ball movement. Cleveland, known for their solid team defense, seemed to crowd Curry on the perimeter, forcing him into tough spots. The Cavaliers’ defenders, particularly Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, were effective in clogging up the paint and contesting Curry’s usual free-flowing perimeter game.

It’s clear that Curry’s shot selection on some of these occasions wasn’t ideal. His typical ability to pull up confidently from deep wasn’t on display here, with too many rushed or heavily contested looks. This led to an uncharacteristic drop in shooting efficiency. If Curry is not hitting his shots, his entire offensive game begins to unravel, as he relies on spacing and gravity to open up driving lanes for teammates and to facilitate ball movement. Without that consistent outside shooting, Curry becomes more easily neutralized, especially by teams like Cleveland, who are able to pack the paint.

Ball Movement and Playmaking

Another dimension of Curry’s game that was notably off against the Cavaliers was his playmaking. Despite registering 5 assists, Curry’s decision-making and court vision seemed hampered by the defensive pressure Cleveland applied on him. The Warriors have built their entire system around ball movement, with Curry often as the chief orchestrator. But in this loss, Curry’s assist numbers did not reflect the depth of his usual impact on the offense.

There were stretches in the game when Curry seemed to dribble into traffic, forcing passes or turning the ball over, with four turnovers in total. The Warriors as a whole had 15 turnovers, a number far too high for a team that prides itself on efficient, free-flowing offense. Curry’s turnovers were a microcosm of the Warriors’ broader offensive struggles. His inability to handle the Cavaliers’ physicality and defensive discipline often led to awkward moments where he seemed out of rhythm. His inability to connect with teammates during crucial possessions also showed up, as Golden State struggled to generate consistent offense.

The Cavaliers’ defense has been solid all season, but this game highlighted how effective they were at disrupting the Warriors’ typical flow. Curry, who typically thrives in these situations by making quick decisions and finding open teammates, struggled to break down Cleveland’s defense and create easy shots for others. While it’s easy to blame Curry for the lack of playmaking, it’s important to recognize that the entire team failed to execute, but as the star player, Curry’s struggle to get the ball moving was particularly pronounced.

Defensive Effort

On the defensive end, Curry’s performance wasn’t abysmal, but it was certainly below his typical standards. Throughout the game, Curry was often caught in mismatches and struggled to stay in front of the more athletic Cleveland players. His lack of size and lateral quickness sometimes leaves him vulnerable against bigger or more explosive players, which was evident during moments when Cleveland exploited mismatches. Additionally, Curry’s effort to close out on shooters or fight through screens was not at the level we usually see.

While Curry has become a more capable defender over the years, particularly with his basketball IQ and ability to read passing lanes, he’s still at a disadvantage when facing high-level offensive players, especially when they are playing with physicality. Against Cleveland, Curry was involved in several plays where he couldn’t contest shots effectively, and at times, he seemed passive in terms of pressuring the ball handler. This allowed Cleveland to maintain offensive flow and convert easy buckets, putting more strain on the Warriors’ already struggling defense.

The Bigger Picture: Curry’s Season So Far

Looking at the season as a whole, Curry has been far from his usual MVP-caliber self. While he’s had flashes of brilliance, the 2024-2025 season has been marked by inconsistency. Curry has had several games where his shooting percentages were well below his career averages, and nights like this one against the Cavaliers only serve to highlight these dips. However, it’s crucial to put his performance in context.

Curry is now in his mid-30s, and while his shooting ability remains elite, there are signs of aging that can’t be ignored. His ability to shake off defenders or evade double teams isn’t as sharp as it once was, and he occasionally looks fatigued over the course of an 82-game season. His body language at times in this game reflected a player who was mentally locked into the game but physically struggling. The Warriors’ dependence on him to play at an elite level night in and night out has become a double-edged sword, as they need Curry to be near perfect to win consistently.

In addition, the Warriors have not been able to consistently put the pieces around Curry in the way they did during their championship runs. Klay Thompson, though better than in previous years, is not quite the player he once was, and Draymond Green’s contributions are now more limited offensively. With a roster full of younger players still finding their rhythm and adapting to Golden State’s system, Curry has not had the same level of support he once had. This means more responsibility falls on his shoulders, and while he has been able to handle it at times, games like the Cavaliers’ loss reveal how difficult it is to keep up with the league’s best teams under these circumstances.