A long road trip can be a grind, especially for a 37-year-old veteran like Steph Curry. 

The face of the Warriors’ franchise has dealt with nagging injuries this season – he recently returned from a pelvic contusion – and been worn down by the incessant attention he draws from defenses on nights when he does play. 

During the Warriors’ ongoing two-week road trip westward across the country, Curry found time to step away from the court, trading in a basketball for wedges, irons and putters. 

“When I golf, good things happen,” Curry told the media after Golden State’s 134-125 victory in Memphis. “Everyone has their things, and for me, just being outside is always nice.”

‘Good things’ certainly happened for the Warriors on Tuesday night, who improved to 44-31 and moved into the fifth seed in the Western Conference. 

Curry scored 52 points, four off his season-high and made a season-high 12 3-pointers. 

It was one triple shy of his career-high of 13, set almost a decade ago in 2016 against New Orleans. 

And it was two off Klay Thompson’s record of 14, something Curry was acutely aware of in his third game back since returning from his pelvis injury. 

“The first two shots I took in the fourth quarter were a reflection of that,” Curry said, before noting he missed his two difficult attempts to start the fourth quarter. “I came to reality. That was the ultimate heat-check, since I just got back in the game.”

That was about the only part of Curry’s night that could be criticized as the Warrriors won their third consecutive game. He went 12-for-20 from behind the arc and also found time to grab 10 rebounds and dish out eight assists.

Perhaps the Warriors should try to get Curry out on the golf course more often.   

“I think two rounds of golf on this road trip helped,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I’m only half joking. The week off was helpful for him. He looks recharged and rejuvenated. The last time he was here, he didn’t make a field goal, and I guarantee that was on his mind.”

Curry disagreed, telling media that his 0-of-7 night against Memphis in a 144-93 shellacking on Dec. 19 was not a thought that entered his head on Tuesday night. 

“I actually forgot that fact,” Curry insisted. “I was more focused on how big this game was for us.”

The Grizzlies will wish they could forget how Curry eviscerated their defense, which tried to force Curry to drive into their massive front line of Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey and Santi Aldama. 

“They just try to funnel you into traffic, and tonight just get the ball out of your hands and then let chaos flow from there,” Curry said. 

It was Curry’s marksmanship that caused chaos … for Memphis. He abused the Grizzlies’ drop coverage, off-ball schemes and anything else they tried to throw his way. 

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Curry said he felt fine at shootaround, but said he had no indication he would score over half-a-hundred. 

Longtime teammate Draymond Green believed otherwise.

“He had a great shootaround this morning, and he was locked in,” Green said. “You can always see a look in his eyes when he’s focused, and he wanted this one bad. It was beautiful to see.”

By the end of Curry’s “beautiful” night, he surpassed the great Jerry West on the all-time scoring list by scoring his 25,193rd point.

Golden State will finish its long road trip playing against the team West once starred for as player, coach and executive. 

The Warriors will face Luka Doncic and the new-look Lakers on Thursday in what could be a playoff preview. 

“Every time we play them, and whenever you get the opportunity to play against LeBron, it’s always a battle amongst us,” Green said. “Now you add Luka to the fold and its different, Dorian Finney-Smith is different and they’re playing great basketball.”