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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Curry’s 62 points against the Blazers was a win, as was Fred VanVleet’s 54 points attempt for Toronto against Orlando on Tuesday.