Josh Giddey gives Steph Curry a taste of his own medicine

Josh Giddey could see the positives in a loss after he pulled off a filthy move on one of the greatest players to have ever played the game.

Andrew McMurtry

@AndrewMcMurtry

2 min read

January 31, 2023 - 4:48PM

Josh Giddey pulled of a great move on one of the legends. Photo: Getty Images and Twitter

It may not have been a win on the scoreboard but it was a moral victory for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the side's 128-120 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

The Thunder blew itself up in 2019, trading franchise cornerstones Paul George and Russell Westbrook for little more than picks and it was expected the organisation would take some time to source young stars and return to being a championship threat.

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While there is still a ways to go, the signs are positive for the Thunder as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to come into his own and Aussie Josh Giddey continues to improve.

Add to the mix a fit and healthy Chet Holmgren, the No. 2 Draft pick who was ruled out of the entire 2022-23 season as well as a Clipper pick swap in the first round as well as two extra picks in the second round.

In 2024, they will have up to four first round picks.

But ever since the Thunder picked up Giddey, they have never looked back.

His sophomore season has seen him improve his stats by two points per game and improve his shooting percentages three per cent to 48.4 per cent from the field and 32.6 per cent from three, up four per cent on the year.

And he’s obviously feeling himself, shooting a mid-range step back two over one of the best shooters the NBA has ever seen in Steph Curry.

Hell of a shot from Giddey. Photo: Twitter

Giddey was against Curry all night. Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images

Giddey was challenged before the season to improve his shooting and he as responded, including a red-hot scoring surge earlier this month.

While it’s not like Giddey played Curry off the court as the Warriors superstar scored 38 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists in a superb game, Giddey added 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

For context, Giddey had just had a lay up blocked at the other end and Curry responded by sinking a 26-foot three-point jumper.

But Giddey didn’t hold back as he dropped an impressive step back with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Josh Giddey was absolutely in his bag on this one ðŸ˜³@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/5Z6VSakvbJ
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) January 31, 2023

Giddey just hit a one-legged fadeaway on Steph Curry lmao
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) January 31, 2023

Josh Giddey said he thinks going back and forth against one of the better teams in the league is a sign of improvement
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) January 31, 2023

It was a tiny bit of payback from Giddey, who Curry had tested out with dagger from just shy of the logo nearly a year ago in OKC.

But while it was not a perfect game for the Thunder in an eight-point loss, Giddey said there was plenty to take out of the match as the 24-26 keep competing with the best in the league.

“One of our big emphasis was not letting them slip the rim,” Giddey said. “In the first quarter they got whatever they wanted. Draymond was quarterbacking out of the high-post and picking us apart.

“Once we cleaned that up, we looked good. We played for three quarters pretty straight and we were right there with them. We got it to a two-point game and had a chance to win it but our first quarter wasn’t good enough.”

Giddey just keeps getting better. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The Thunder are still in the hunt for the playoffs, sitting 11th in the West, one win back from the 10th place Jazz.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder scoring with 31 points.

“I was really happy with the way the guys responded down the stretch,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We closed the game really well. It was a good night overall.”