Stephen Curry did what he does best: score at an unbelievable pace. Against the Toronto Raptors, the Golden State Warriors superstar poured in 39 points and 4 assists, dominating the second half with 24 points while shooting 47.1% from the field.

Still, it wasn’t enough. The Raptors came away with a 141-127 overtime victory, fueled by Scottie Barnes’ explosive triple-double (23 points, 25 rebounds, 10 assists) and clear dominance on the glass.

What stood out, though, wasn’t just the stat line, it was the postgame comments from Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic, who explained his approach to defending Curry with a dose of humor.

I saw a video the other day where Gregg Popovich was asked about Luka Dončić. Pop said, ‘Hold him under 50.’ After the game, Luka had 51. So our goal tonight was to hold Curry to 39.

Darko Rajakovic

A clear nod to the legendary former Spurs coach’s famous joke about the near-impossibility of stopping a superstar like Doncic – one that Rajakovic turned into motivation for his own team.

The Raptors’ win becomes a story of preparation, tactical intelligence, and lighthearted irony: sometimes, laughing in the face of a legend is the best way to beat him. The rematch is set for January 20, when the Warriors and Raptors will face each other again. Rajakovic will likely have another smile ready – and another game plan.