It was also the last time the Warriors led, as they were beaten 116-100 by the Celtics who took a 2-1 lead in the series to the best of seven in the NBA Finals.
One bad night for Golden State when Curry fell to the ground in a loose ball fight with Boston’s Al Horford, who rolled over Curry’s foot with four minutes left in the game.
Despite writhing in pain on the ground, the Warriors’ talisman continued to play before leaving the court two minutes later.
“We need him if we want to win this thing,” said Klay Thompson, Curry’s Splash teammate. “I know Steph will do everything he can to play. I really hope he’s okay because it’s our identity, and without him it will be very difficult.”
Curry proved to be the only Warriors player capable of challenging the powerful Celtics defense that showed his superiority in the end, keeping Golden State at 11 points in the fourth quarter.
He was the top scorer on Wednesday with 31 points and Golden State will be desperately waiting for him to recover in time for the fourth game.
“Obviously with a little pain, but I’ll be fine,” Curry told reporters after the game. “Look at how I feel tomorrow and get ready for Friday.
“I don’t feel like I’m missing a game. I’m going to take advantage of the next 48 hours to prepare.”
Boston took the lead with two three-pointers from Jaylen Brown, who led the Celtics with 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the first quarter. Boston’s lead extended to 15 points and the Celtics took a 33-22 lead in the second quarter.
The Warriors threw just 8 of 23 in the first, while their revolted defense conceded multiple fouls, including three from Curry in the first half.
But, as was often the case this season, Golden State regrouped in the third quarter and embarked on a 14-3 run, enough to erase the Celtics’ lead.
In Game 2, a burst of goals in the third quarter was enough to secure the Dubs victory, but this time the Celtics found a way to fight.
“I felt like our team was staying ready at the time,” Horford told reporters after the game. “As you know, at the beginning of the year, this could have gone south quickly.
“But we were fine and we were locked up and we didn’t panic and we kept playing.”
Boston pulled back with an 11-6 run, regained the lead in the fourth, and never lost again.
Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart and Brown contributed more than 20 points, five rebounds and five assists and became the first team trio to achieve this in an NBA Finals game from the Magic Johnson trio. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Los Angeles Lakers. Michael Cooper in 1984, a series that coincidentally ended in a seven-game Celtic victory.
Will these NBA Finals echo that 1984 result? Game 4, which is scheduled for Friday, will provide answers.