SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry roared back from a rough first half to score 18 of his 26 points after intermission, Jimmy Butler had 21 points and the Golden State Warriors ran away from the Orlando Magic in the second half for a 120-97 win Monday night.
Curry played on a tender left ankle and missed his initial six 3-point tries — beginning 3 for 13 from the floor — before finally connecting from deep with 8:20 left in the third quarter to pull the Warriors within 71-69. That was all it took to get Golden State rolling on a 14-4 run.
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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green yells at the referee during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) ,right, dribbles against Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) ,left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) is fouled by Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post, center left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
The two-time MVP shot 10 for 23 overall, making 4 of 13 3s. He had six assists and two of his team's eight steals.
Paolo Banchero had 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, and Desmond Bane scored 20 points for Orlando in the first night of a road back-to-back.
Moses Moody scored 20 points for the Warriors, while Brandin Podziemski came off the bench to finish with 16 points, five assists and four rebounds. Draymond Green contributed nine points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes a game after being ejected early in the second quarter Saturday against Phoenix.
Golden State guard Buddy Hield had his streak of 199 straight regular-season games played snapped in Saturday's 119-116 win over the Suns, but hit a late 3-pointer Monday. Jonathan Kuminga didn't play again after missing the last game with an illness.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr hopes to have center Al Horford back Thursday from a seven-game absence because of right sciatic nerve irritation.
Magic: Visit Portland on Tuesday night to complete a four-game road trip.
Warriors: Host Dallas on Thursday for a Christmas Day matinee.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green yells at the referee during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) ,right, dribbles against Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) ,left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) is fouled by Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post, center left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — San Francisco's offense is revving up just in time for the playoffs.
One day after the 49ers clinched a playoff spot, Brock Purdy threw a career-high five touchdown passes and Dee Winters returned an interception of Philip Rivers' final pass 74 yards for a score in a 48-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night.
“He was awesome, he played really well,” coach Kyle Shanahan said, describing Purdy's play. "I got on him for a couple throws he missed, but it was pretty close to a perfect game. He did a hell of a job.”
San Francisco (11-4) has won five straight to stay competitive for both the NFC West title and the conference's top seed. It also snapped a five-game losing streak in the series that dated to former Colts coach Jim Mora’s infamous “playoffs” rant in November 2001.
Indy's loss also clinched playoff spots for Buffalo, Jacksonville and the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC.
The biggest reason: Purdy's sensational play.
He completed 25 of 34 passes for 295 yards as San Francisco produced 440 total yards and didn't punt for a second straight week. Christian McCaffrey rushed 21 times for 117 yards and had six catches for 29 yards and two scores. George Kittle added seven receptions for 115 yards and one TD.
And aside from Purdy's lone interception, the 49ers offense seemed to do anything it wanted against Indy's defense.
“We've got to be better,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “Bottom line, we can't give up that many yards. They scored a lot of points, went up and down the field and we've got to get that cleaned up in a hurry. Our defense played great last week and then this week ... we've got to be better.”
The 44-year-old Rivers sure didn't make it easy on San Francisco in his second game back after a five-year layoff. He was 23 of 35 for 277 yards, two TDs and the one interception. But he also couldn't pull the Colts (8-7) out of a late-season swoon that has nearly ended their playoff hopes.
Indy has lost five straight and six of seven.
Rivers started strong in a wild first half, throwing the first of two TD passes to Alec Pierce, a 20-yarder on the opening series. Pierce finished with four receptions for 86 yards and two scores.
Purdy countered with a 22-yard scoring pass to Demarcus Robinson and, after a Colts fumble, a 2-yard TD pass to McCaffrey to make it 14-7. Rivers tied the score early in the second quarter by neatly fitting a 16-yard throw to Pierce in a tight window.
Purdy then broke the tie with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kittle and the teams traded field goals before Eddie Pineiro's 64-yard attempt hit the crossbar as time expired in the first half with the 49ers up 24-17.
San Francisco was just as efficient in the second half. Purdy capped the first possession with a 15-yard TD pass to Jauan Jennings to take control with a 31-17 lead.
Jonathan Taylor's 1-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter cut Indy's deficit to 34-27, but the 49ers sealed it with a 9-yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey with 7:37 to play and Winters' interception return with 3:26 to play.
“It was cool to be out here playing against Philip Rivers and the Colts,” Purdy said. "To go out and execute like we did, I’m really proud of these guys, everyone. Our defense, the turnover at the end of the game with Dee Winters, huge win for us.”
49ers: Kittle injured his ankle while making a cut during the third quarter, and linebacker Tatum Bethune injured his right ankle late in the third quarter.
Colts: Indy opened the game without either of its starting offensive tackles — Braden Smith (concussion) and Bernhard Raimann (elbow) — then lost center Tanor Bortolini with a concussion on the third offensive play of the game. Then they lost starting RG Dalton Tucker with shoulder injury in the second half. The Colts also lost DE JT Tuimoloau with an oblique injury in the first half.
49ers: Purdy has seven TD passes in the last two games, the most over a two-game stretch by a 49ers quarterback since 2001. ... San Francisco has scored in 23 consecutive quarters, its longest streak since 1995.
Colts: Taylor's TD early in the fourth gave him 17 rushing scores this season, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Lenny Moore for the second-highest single season total in franchise history. ... Indy lost its first game of the season while topping the 20-point mark.
49ers: Host Chicago on Saturday night in a possible playoff preview.
Colts: Close out the home schedule Sunday against AFC South leading Jacksonville.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches a touchdown pass against San Francisco 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (84) cannot catch a pass while being defended by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Upton Stout, top left, and cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, bottom, smiles after catching a touchdown pass against Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs past Indianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu (97) and defensive tackle Grover Stewart (90) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, right, is hit by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu (97) while throwing a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
