Stephen Curry and Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic have tied for a rare statistical feat in the NBA playoffs.
Doncic joined a string of Warriors greats as only two players in NBA history to make 65-plus 3-pointers and record 30-plus steals in a single playoff game.
In NBA history,
30+ Steals
3 over 65In the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/6j7j8Qydq4
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 11, 2024
Doncic etched his name next to a 10-time NBA All-Star by recording 32 points on 4-of-9 3-pointers, 11 rebounds, 11 assists and four steals in a 105-98 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals.
Curry has accomplished this feat twice in his 15-year NBA career, totaling 39 steals in the 2015 playoffs – the most ever by a player with at least 65 three-pointers made in a playoff game – and then had 34 in 2017.
The Warriors finished that two-game winning streak as NBA champions.
Doncic has 34 steals in this season's playoffs, tying him with Curry for the second-most among players with at least 65 3-pointers made. Doncic also leads the league in steals with 65 in the 2024 playoffs.
Curry nearly achieved that feat for a third time in the 2022 playoffs, but fell just short with 29 steals and an astounding 91 3-pointers on his way to a fourth championship with Golden State.
While Curry isn't known for his defense, he has proven himself to be a two-way force throughout his career – after all, he was the NBA's steals leader with 169 steals in 79 regular season games (2.14 per game).
Doncic, on the other hand, could be described as a “fast lane merchant.”
The 25-year-old Doncic stands 6-foot-7 but has been criticized recently for his defensive effort in the Finals. While Doncic shares some rare two-way stats with Curry, it's clear that the two players have very different ways of getting steals.
The tape doesn't lie.
Luke's defense, everyone pic.twitter.com/gb3KL0enRN
— Banner18 (@TylerLaFrance) June 10, 2024
Curry and Doncic have always had something in common: their love of the long ball and their unlikely ability to rack up steals, but they are both incredibly unique when it comes to how they fill up the stat sheet.
And to date, Curry is the only player to have made at least 65 three-pointers and recorded at least 30 steals en route to winning the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
Only time will tell how this season will end for Doncic and the Mavericks, who as of Tuesday were trailing 0-2 against the Celtics.
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