Steph Curry Scores 51 vs. Mavericks: Highlights and Twitter Reaction

With the Golden State Warriors' normally stingy defense struggling to slow down the Dallas Mavericks at Oracle Arena on Wednesday night, Steve Kerr needed someone to take over on offense.

As has so often been the case this year, Stephen Curry was up to the task.

The sharpshooting point guard went 16-of-26 from the field, knocking down 10 threes for a season-high 51 points in the team's 128-114 win. Somehow, as the San Francisco Chronicle's Vic Tafur noted, it was a seemingly effortless 51:

Only three points off the career high he set at Madison Square Garden two years ago, it was yet another performance to put on his MVP resume:

"

Just pass the MVP to Curry!

— BRANDON JENNINGS (@BrandonJennings) February 5, 2015"

Curry's four assists on the night mark his second-lowest output in that category this season. But that's because instead of dishing to his teammates, he was busy hoisting them on his shoulders.

Dallas jumped out to an early 24-4 lead and may have completely run away with the game right then if Curry didn't score 10 points in a span of two minutes to simply keep the Warriors within striking distance.

He then truly entered video game mode in the third quarter, pouring in 26 of Golden State's 43 points to give his team the lead for good. It wasn't quite the historic 37 that teammate Klay Thompson dropped last month, but it was still a transcendent showing good enough for No. 2 on the year, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Steve Kerr's reaction, via SB Nation and ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, says it all:

So does Curry's shot chart, which shows that he was more efficient from beyond the arc than inside the restricted area:

Curry sat out the first half of the final quarter, but with the Mavs making another run, he again single-handedly put them away, scoring 10 points in the final 3:13 to hit the half-century mark and entrench the Splash Brothers in NBA history: 

Golden State's electrifying backcourt has a knack for outshining players at the same position from around the league. Curry's massive night came just hours after Russell Westbrook matched a career high with 45 points, and as you may remember, Thompson's 52-point outburst came on the same night James Harden hit a game-winner against the Phoenix Suns.

These two have become experts on making the unbelievable look routine. When one of them gets hot from outside—which is pretty much a weekly occurrence—it's best to just sit back and enjoy the show.

"

Curry is must-watch not only because he's dope but because there's a good chance you'll feel like an idiot if you miss something.

— Bethlehem Shoals (@freedarko) February 5, 2015"

More importantly, these transcendent performances are translating into wins. The Warriors hold a three-game lead over Memphis for the top spot in the West, and with Curry playing at an MVP level, there's little chance they'll lose that lead. 

And when Curry is playing at whatever undefinable, scintillating level he was at on Wednesday night, the Dubs will be practically unbeatable.