"He got a dawg in him" - Steph Curry complements Kevin Porter Jr. for his tenacity after Houston Rockets starlet trash talks him all game

The Rockets’ starting point guard hounded the reigning scoring champ and talked trash almost the entire game, which the Rockets lost 122-108. As antagonistic as his actions were, the deadliest shooter in NBA history had nothing but good words towards the ultra-talented youth.

In a postgame interview after Steph Curry exploded for 21 fourth-quarter points, the Warriors superstar recognized what KPJ was trying to do. Instead of getting riled up, the two-time MVP praised probably the only guy who dared to trash talk him that much in a single game this season.

Here’s what Curry had to say to Kevin Porter Jr.’s smash-mouth tactic to guard him:

Steph Curry saw that the 21-year-old sophomore was not going to play scared or timid, considering Curry had practically been in a slump in January. Kevin Porter Jr. was willing to play the percentages and do whatever it took to help his team win. Although the tactic fantastically backfired, Curry liked the determination and grit from the developing point guard.

The now 8x All-Star didn’t respond in kind to KPJ’s trash-talking during the game. However, he made sure to torch the Rockets yet again. Curry is now the NBA leader in most 20-point fourth-quarter games, breaking a tie with the legendary Kobe Bryant.

Two of Curry’s most productive 12-minute stretches have come against the Rockets. Steph Curry once dropped 23 points in the final canto of Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against Houston in 2019.

He followed it up with tonight's scorcher, reminding the rest of the league that he can still light it up when push comes to shove regardless of a prolonged slump.

Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are starting to heat up again

The Warriors are in the midst of a six-game winning run despite Curry’s shooting woes. Before their recent run, they were only 4-6 in their last 10 games.

The team is still missing Draymond Green and awaiting the return of James Wiseman. It’s almost scary to think about what this team can do once they get everyone back.

Despite Steph Curry’s poor run of form, the Warriors have received significant contributions from almost everyone on the roster. Andrew Wiggins has proven his All-Star status while Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson have been solid scorers.

More impressively, the Bay Area team has been superb on defense, even without Green. They currently have the best defensive rating in the NBA by a considerable margin. If they can sustain their defense until everyone’s back, they’ll be one of the heavy favorites to win the championship this season.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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