“He is not built for big stages!” – Stephen Curry gets SLAMMED for his underwhelming 18-point Christmas performance against the Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets beat the Golden State Warriors 120-114.

“He is not built for big stages!” – Stephen Curry gets SLAMMED for his underwhelming 18-point Christmas performance against the Nuggets

Steph Curry struggled in the Christmas Day matchup against Denver, going 3-13 from the three point line on the lowest +/- of the game (-26) (Golden State of Mind)

In what has become a recurring theme, Golden State Warriors’ star Stephen Curry struggled to shine on the NBA’s Christmas Day stage. This year, against the Denver Nuggets, Curry managed just 18 points, shooting 7-of-21 from the field. This performance continued a trend of underwhelming Christmas Day showings for the two-time MVP, raising questions about his ability to deliver in high-profile games.

Historically, Curry’s Christmas Day performances have been a mixed bag. Prior to the 2023 game, he averaged 15.3 points on 31.5 percent shooting in these fixtures. While he has had moments of brilliance, including a 33-point outing in 2021, his overall track record on December 25th has been underwhelming.

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Stephen Curry had this to say about his performance against the Denver Nuggets post-game

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It's more frustrating because... we played well enough despite the way I shot the ball, we still had a chance to win so those are the tough ones to swallow when you didn't play as well as you could have or as efficient as you could have defensively throughout the course of the game.
Stephen Curry about performance against Nuggets

The Golden State Warriors’ 120-114 loss to the Nuggets only amplified the criticism. Despite Curry’s season averages of 28.3 points on 47.0 percent shooting, his Christmas Day struggles have become a notable exception in an otherwise stellar career.

Fans and analysts alike took to social media to express their disappointment and confusion over Curry’s performance. The chorus of criticism ranged from questioning his clutch ability to outright frustration over his repeated Christmas Day woes.

The Christmas Day conundrum: Stephen Curry’s struggles continue

This pattern of underperformance on Christmas has puzzled fans and analysts, given Curry’s reputation as one of the NBA’s most lethal shooters and a key figure in the Warriors’ dynasty.

Curry averages 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game at 31% shooting and 20.4% from beyond the arc in Christmas games
Curry averages a mere 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game at 31% shooting and 20.4% from beyond the arc in Christmas games (NBC Sports)

The reaction on X was swift and harsh. Fans posted tweets making their sentiments clear, a mix of bafflement and disappointment by Curry’s Christmas Day performances.

https://twitter.com/CarterAntFan/status/1739409194854273380

Despite the backlash, Curry’s overall impact on the game remains undisputed. His revolutionary play has changed the NBA, and his career achievements speak for themselves. However, his Christmas Day performances continue to be an anomaly in an otherwise illustrious career.

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