Stephen Curry was out on a mission last night against the Nets. To extend the Warriors’ two-game winning streak, the Baby-Faced Assassin dropped 40 points and led his team to another dominant victory. Turns out, this was Steph’s first ever forty-piece against the Brooklyn franchise. But was he aware of this stat beforehand? Well, Steve Kerr certainly thinks so, as he issued a stern warning to the sixteen teams the Warriors are yet to compete against this regular season.

When asked if Steph consciously knew he had never scored forty against the Nets, Kerr said postgame, “Knowing Steph, yes. I think he knows stats. He reads up on stuff.” So, it might have motivated him to go extra hard in last night’s game. Maybe that’s why he pulled up from near half court before the end of the first half to make an insane circus shot.

Later in the game, Steph also taunted the Nets with his iconic Night Night celebration after hitting a dagger three from the corner to seal the game for his team. But there is one more team he needs to score 40 against to complete the bingo. The Pistons. Ironically, the Warriors’ next game is against them this weekend.

So, Kerr was asked if Steph will go for another epic performance on Saturday. The head coach responded with a scary reminder, “You’ll have to ask him. But I think he goes for 40 every single night. I think it’s just who he is. He’s got a killer mentality. He loves putting on a show. He loves to shoot dagger shots. It’s what he does. I don’t know that the mentality ever changes with Steph.” So, not only the Pistons, but the entire league should be afraid when facing him because Curry can drop forty on them on any given night. And no one is safe, especially after Steph has found the perfect partner for his title pursuit.

Steve Kerr credits Jimmy Butler’s arrival for Stephen Curry’s rejuvenated form

While Curry was having an incredible season from the start, his numbers had seen a significant decline from previous years, likely because of his age and injury woes. However, he seems to have a newfound energy since the Jimmy Butler trade. Since the All-Star break, Steph is averaging 29.8 points and is looking more lethal than ever. Kerr believes Butler has played a huge role in Steph’s rejuvenation, “When he’s with Steph, you see how smart he is, how the ball moves, possessions connect… multiple possessions where they’re driving closeouts, swinging the ball, creating an advantage, and then Steph ends up with a shot on the backside.”

With another superstar to rely on, Curry is getting enough rest to keep him fresh for the entire game. Even last night, while Steph scored forty, Butler also went off for 25 points and six assists. “We’ve always been at our best with high-IQ guys around Steph and Draymond, and that’s what I’m seeing with Jimmy.” Kerr said in a recent interview. Moreover, the Warriors have jumped to the sixth seed in the West and turned into legitimate contenders with Jimmy and Steph leading the charge. And the four-time champ will surely try his best to keep this momentum going till the end of the season. So, don’t be surprised if Steph drops another forty-piece this weekend or even in the games after that because his “killer mentality” never changes.