Curry sets three-point record by sinking 13
NBA's reigning MVP seizes three-point record after sinking 13 to silence Pelicans
Stephen Curry let it fly from the top of the arc, back-pedalled as his record-breaking three-ball dropped and then wildly began bobbing his head and shuffling his feet with the swagger of a two-time reigning MVP.
The star guard sank 13 to set an NBA mark - one game after missing all his three-point tries for the first time in two years – and the Golden State Warriors beat the winless New Orleans Pelicans 116-106 yesterday morning (Singapore time).
"This was a special night," Curry said.
Curry, who on Friday had seen the end of his incredible 157-game streak with at least one three-pointer in a defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, finished with 46 points after a virtuoso display.
He broke the previous record of 12 he had shared with Kobe Bryant and Donyell Marshall.
"That's a pretty cool record to have," Curry said, after the win.
"It probably won't last too long, the way guys shoot in this league. But to have the three-point record is pretty special."
Curry said he had not dwelt on his setback last week.
"I wasn't even thinking about the 0 for 10 tonight," he said.
"I was thinking about it a bit in practice for the last two days, but after that it was over. It was nice to keep shooting. And thankfully, they went in."
Curry paid tribute to the work of his teammates in helping to set him into position for his three-point bonanza, especially his 13th and final effort in the fourth quarter.
SCREENS
"The guys set great screens all night. And on that last play they had the IQ to know where I was. Pretty fun night," he added.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he had not been surprised by Curry's spectacular display.
"That was quite a show. Not all that surprising," Kerr said.
"He's done it throughout his career, where he comes right back off of a bad game and lights it up. It didn't surprise me."
The win saw the Warriors improve to five and two, while the Pelicans slumped to 0-7 despite another big-points haul from Anthony Davis, who finished with 33. Davis has averaged 30 points per game so far this season.
Curry nailed three three-pointers in a 27-5 scoring run in the second quarter, which transformed a 35-34 deficit into a 61-40 lead shortly before half-time.
However, a 24-9 surge by the Pelicans in the third quarter, which included nine points from Davis, helped New Orleans back into the contest.
Once again, though, Curry intervened to turn the tide, hitting his ninth and 10th threes of the night to help the Warriors into an 84-78 lead.
The Pelicans closed to within two early in the fourth, but Curry was not to be denied. He buried his 11th, 12th and record-breaking 13th three-pointers on consecutive possessions to turn a five-point game into a 109-97 lead, with 2:23 on the clock.
Curry finished with figures of 13 of 17 from three-point distance; the 40-point tally was the 23rd of his career.
"Pulling up from 40 feet, I don't know how you defend that," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said, of Curry.
"Steph made some incredibly tough shots. I thought that if he would have had an average game, we would have had an opportunity to win."
Klay Thompson added 24 points, while Kevin Durant chipped in 22.
Durant was left awestruck by Curry's three-point exhibition.
"It just happened so quickly. I looked up and the board said, '13 threes, NBA record', and I was like 'Wow'. I didn't even realise," Durant said.
"It was an incredible night." - AFP.
OTHER RESULTS
- Philadelphia 84 Utah 109
- Washington 106 Houston 114
- Charlotte 122 Indiana 100
- Chicago 112 Orlando 80
- Oklahoma City 97 Miami 85
- LA Clippers 114 Detroit 82
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