Lessons were learned as the Golden State Warriors visited the Houston Rockets on Monday night. Stephen Curry reminded everyone, especially Kevin Porter Jr., not to poke at a sleeping giant.

Stephen Curry has been slumping for the better part of this season but flexed his proverbial muscles for the Warriors with 40 points on 13-for-23 shooting and seven threes.

A large majority of those 40 points came after Kevin Porter Jr. started talking some trash at the two-time MVP. He even tried (and failed) to intimidate him with a stare down midway through the third quarter.

After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked about the incident. He claimed that he wasn't even aware that it happened, but would do the opposite of condemn the Rockets youngster from doing it again.

“I didn’t notice it,” Steve Kerr said. “But I highly encourage it.”

Steph Curry, Steve Kerr and the rest of the Warriors have been asked endlessly about the superstar's ongoing slump. Every old adage that's needed to be said about not worrying about Steph has been said.

Perhaps beyond just the textbook words of encouragement, what Curry truly needed was some outright provocation from someone clearly not in his league.

“Not the first, won’t be the last time,” Curry said. “I take it all as entertainment. Sometimes you need a boost.”

The Warriors star is used to taking heat like that. But if you come at the three-point shooting king like that, he's probably not going to miss.