Stephen Curry sets 3-pointer mark as Warriors top Knicks

[December 15, 2021] Stephen Curry broke the NBA record for most career 3-pointers Tuesday night, when he finished with a team-high 22 points as the visiting Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks 105-96.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after a three point basket breaking the career record for total three pointers made during the during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Curry entered the game needing just two 3-pointers to break Ray Allen's mark of 2,973 3-pointers and wasted no time making history. He drained two of his first three attempts, including the record-breaker -- a 27-footer with 7:33 left in the opening quarter.

Curry broke the record in his 789th regular season game -- the equivalent of more than six full seasons faster than Allen, who played 1,300 regular season games.

The game was stopped for a few minutes as Curry exchanged hugs and handshakes with teammates, head coach Steve Kerr and Allen, who was seated courtside. Kerr presented Curry the milestone ball, which Curry immediately gave to his father, former NBA player Dell Curry. The father and son duo shared a warm embrace.

Curry finished the game 5 of 14 from beyond the arc as the Warriors won for the fourth time in five games to improve their NBA-best record to 23-5. Jordan Poole scored 19 points while Andrew Wiggins had 18 points and Nemanja Bjelica added 14 points off the bench. Draymond Green contributed eight points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots.

Julius Randle scored 31 points for the Knicks, who have lost four straight and seven of eight. Derrick Rose finished with 15 points, Alec Burks had 14 and Immanuel Quickley scored 12 off the bench.

Curry's record-breaking 3-pointer highlighted an otherwise quiet first quarter that ended with the score tied 24-24. The Knicks never trailed in the second quarter and entered the locker room with a 48-47 lead.

The teams were knotted twice in the third quarter before a three-point play by Poole gave the Warriors a 54-51 lead -- their first advantage since going ahead 12-10 on Curry's historic 3-pointer. There were two more ties and one more lead change before Wiggins' free throw with 3:49 left put Golden State ahead for good at 60-59.

That began a quarter-ending 12-5 run for the Warriors, who took their first double-digit lead at 74-64 when Bjelica opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer. The visitors' lead grew to as many as 11 before the Knicks scored seven straight points to pull within 81-77. Damion Lee and Bjelica then hit layups on consecutive trips for Golden State, which led by as many as 12 down the stretch.

--Field Level Media

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