History suggests the Warriors superstar will struggle to respond due to poor form

Aside from a 31-point, 10-assist performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, Stephen Curry’s recent form has been far below what we’re usually used to from the Golden State Warriors superstar.

Curry was held to just 10 points on 2-of-13 shooting at home on Monday against the Indiana Pacers, where the visitors entered the Chase Center and knocked off a Warrior team whose offense once stumbled in the fourth quarter.

The 2x MVP was also held to just two points in 24 minutes against the Memphis Grizzlies last Thursday, after going without a made field goal for the first time in a game in which he has played more than 12 minutes.

History suggests Stephen Curry will struggle to respond when the Warriors host the Lakers on Christmas Day

Curry conceded that he needs to play much better after Monday’s loss to the Pacers, with the 36-year-old now averaging 21.8 points so far this season after posting 29.4 and 26.4 per game in each of the last two years.

He’ll get the opportunity to respond against the Los Angeles Lakers in a marquee matchup at the Chase Center on Christmas Day, but history suggests the 10x All-Star isn’t too happy about the remarkable occasion.

Curry has particularly struggled in Christmas Day games, having made 10 such appearances dating back to 2010. He has averaged just 15.4 points in those games, with remarkably only one performance of more than 19 points — that came in 2021, when he had 33 points, four rebounds and six assists in a 116–107 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Given Curry’s struggles, it’s no surprise that the Warriors have struggled in Christmas Day games over the past 15 years. They are a solid but not outstanding 7-6 in 13 games since 2010, but three of those actually came when Curry was out with an injury.

If Curry wants to look on the bright side of history, he might look to his recent performance against the Lakers. The veteran guard averaged 33 points on 52/48/86 shooting in four games against the Pacific Rim last season, including a 46-point outburst in a double-overtime game the Warriors actually lost in late January.

More than his own individual form, Curry will just be hoping Golden State returns to a winning streak amid 10 losses in their last 13 games. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell are all questionable for the Lakers, while Gary Payton II is also questionable in an otherwise clear injury report for the Warriors.