RingCentral – Free Trial
Curry Greatest 3-Point Shooter in NBA History
Warriors beat NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry shoots his record-breaking 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Curry hit his 2,974th career 3-pointer Tuesday night, breaking the record set by Ray Allen. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
2021.12.14 – Stephen Curry became the NBA’s career leader for 3-pointers and scored 22 points, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 105-96 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Curry would have loved to set the record for career 3-pointers in front of his Bay Area fans. But, doing it in front of his family, and Ray Allen and Reggie Miller — guys who used to hold the record — and an adoring crowd at Madison Square Garden wasn’t too bad.
“If you can’t do it at home, this is definitely a great Plan B,” Curry said Tuesday night.
Three of Curry’s 22 points gave him that title of NBA career leader for 3-pointers on a night the Warriors beat the Knicks.
It was a long time coming, but the record fell almost immediately before a packed Madison Square Garden. It took Curry only 4 minutes, 27 seconds of game time and three shots to claim the crown from Ray Allen, whom Curry embraced at midcourt after the Warriors called a timeout immediately following the shot.
2021.12.14 – Warriors @ NY Knicks – (NBA Video highlights)
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, left, and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry fight for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
2021.12.14 – Warriors @ NY Knicks – (NBA Video highlights)
2021.12.14 – Warriors @ NY Knicks – (NBA Video highlights)
Curry made his 2,974th 3-pointer with 7:33 left in the first quarter, followed by a lengthy celebration inside Madison Square Garden where he hugged his parents, teammates and Allen, whose record stood for 10 years.
“I thought the night was perfect,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who called timeout after the record shot to make room for a celebration. “It just pretty much encapsulated who he is and his reaction to it was perfect.”
From the get-go, it was clear Curry was gunning for the record and going to get it quickly. Entering the game only one behind Allen on the all-time leaderboard, Curry took a few steps across halfcourt on Golden State’s third possession of the night, crossed over and drained the tying shot— nothing but net — from the top of the key.
The Garden was buzzing from the opening tip. It exploded once Curry’s third 3-point shot splashed through the net .
Curry made a beeline for Draymond Green, the teammate who has assisted or screened on so many of those 2,974 three-pointers, and the two shared an extended and emotional hug before Curry made his way to the Warriors bench and eventually over to Allen at midcourt.
Curry’s record could last much longer, as he is taking and making 3s better than anyone in basketball. He came in averaging a career-high 5.4 per game and went 5 for 14 Tuesday, giving him a league-leading 145. Nobody else had made 100 entering play Tuesday.
Teammate Draymond Green, wearing a shirt with Curry on the front after the game, said the guard could end up beating the record by 1,000 or more.
“Steph is the best to ever shoot a basketball and we get the opportunity to go to work with him every day and it’s a very special thing,” Green said.
Curry, who set the record on the same Madison Square Garden court where he had a 54-point game in 2013 before becoming the NBA’s two-time MVP, has led the league in 3-pointers six times.
“I’ve been thinking about this number for a long time. I’ve even got it on my shoes. Basketball history. This is pretty special,” Curry told TNT following the game of record- breaking No. 2,974. “I watched (Reggie Miller and Allen) growing up and understood what it meant to shoot the ball because of them and my dad. Full-circle moment. I am blessed, for sure.”
2021.12.14 –Curry’s record-breaking night – (Post Game Video)
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, left, and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry fight for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
2021.12.14 – Curry’s record-breaking night – (Post Game Video)
2021.12.14 – Curry’s record-breaking night – (Post Game Video)
Curry hugged his dad, Dell, then his mom, Sonya, and proceeded over to his seat on the bench. Record in hand, Curry let the emotion of the moment — and the long journey to get here — fall over him for a moment, fighting back tears.
“You couldn’t have gone any better,” Kerr said. “To have Ray and Reggie here and to do it in the Garden in front of these fans, just great basketball fans. They appreciate the game so much. The atmosphere at the Garden is second to none, so it was really special.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr called the record breaking shot “incredible.”
“The moment was spectacular,” Kerr said. “It was kind of a fade away high arcing 3, so the degree of difficulty was there. The crowd was anticipating it. The aftermath was more emotional than I excepted it to be. There was an outpouring of love and support from seemingly everyone in the building.”
Congratulations also poured in via social media from fellow NBA stars such as longtime Warriors nemesis LeBron James.
The Lakers star tweeted, “Just landed in Dallas to see @StephenCurry30 broke the record and to make it even doper he did it in the GARDEN!! WOW CONGRATS” BROTHER!! INCREDIBLE.”
Hall of Famer Jason Kidd tweeted, “Congratulations @StephenCurry30! You changed the game!”
At 33 years old, Curry is playing at his highest level since at least his last MVP campaign six seasons ago, if not ever, and is mounting a serious campaign for his third Maurice Podoloff Trophy.
OK… BACK TO THE GAME
His team showed why it could make him a four-time champion with another lockdown defensive effort, limiting the Knicks to 36% shooting while improving the NBA’s best record to 23-5.
“You can see who they are,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.
Jordan Poole had 19 points and nine rebounds, going 13 for 13 on free throws to overcome a 3-for-11 night from the field. Green added eight points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Julius Randle scored 31 points for the Knicks, who have lost four straight and seven of eight. They were without RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin and Quentin Grimes because of the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
Curry and the Warriors weren’t particularly sharp, perhaps drained by the emotion of the early celebration or a delayed arrival in New York due to flight issues out of Indiana, where they played Monday night.
But they made sure the faltering Knicks couldn’t get anything going, gradually pulling away after a close first half. By the time Curry made his last 3 of the night, Golden State went up 97-85 with about 2:40 to play and had seized control long before that.
2021.12.14 – Bonds celebrates Steph Curry – (Post Game Video)
Golden State Warriors forward Nemanja Bjelica (8) drives to the basket against New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
2021.12.14 – Bonds celebrates Steph Curry – (Post Game Video)
2021.12.14 – Bonds celebrates Steph Curry – (Post Game Video)
TRAVEL TROUBLE
The Warriors didn’t arrive in New York until early Tuesday afternoon. They remained in Indiana overnight because of plane troubles, and caught a bus from the hotel to the airport at 9:30 a.m. Teams usually arrive for a road game the night before.
“I told some of the coaches, it’s still better than the old days,” Kerr said. “My first few years, we flew commercial and this was like routine to have a back-to-back where you fly in on the day of the game. But you were on Continental, you weren’t on a charter, so it was a little bit harder back then.”
TIP-INS
Warriors: Curry holds the Madison Square Garden record with 11 3-pointers in the 2013 game. … Andre Iguodala, who has battled right knee soreness, played for just the second time in 13 games. He had two points in 14 minutes.
Knicks: Derrick Rose scored 15 points. Alec Burks had 14 but shot 4 for 15. … The 2013 game was the last one the Knicks beat the Warriors at home. Golden State has won the last eight meetings.
UP NEXT
Warriors: Visit Boston on Friday.
Knicks: Visit Houston on Thursday.
Related – See : Warriors Terminate Suns’ 18-Game Streak
Related – See below: 2018 Warriors NBA Finals (video)
Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Golden State Warriors, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
RingCentral – Free Trial
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.
2018 Warriors NBA Finals video highlights