Warriors win, Curry just shy of NBA record

| December 14, 2021

Stephen Curry finished one three-pointer shy of the NBA career record on Monday night, making five triples and scoring 26 points to help the Golden State Warriors rally late for a 102-100 win over the Indiana Pacers.

Curry is closing in on Ray Allen’s record of 2973 and is likely to break it Tuesday night against the New York Knicks on the NBA’s grandest stage – Madison Square Garden.

“I’m enjoying the moment, knocking on the doorstep. It’s pretty surreal,” Curry, who also had six rebounds and six assists, said.

“You just keep playing basketball, taking shots you think you can make and enjoy the experience.”

While Curry finished five-of-15 from beyond the arc, his final three and layup got the Warriors level with 48.5 seconds left. Kevin Looney’s putback with 13.8 seconds remaining broke the tie and the Pacers then turned it over.

“The play was set up perfectly, the three just didn’t go in and Loon did what Loon does, which is go get the offensive board to give us the lead and eventually the win,” Draymond Green, who had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Warriors, said.

Domantas Sabonis led Indiana with 30 points and 11 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to protect their lead down the stretch.

“I know he was trying to get the record tonight and in my mind, I wasn’t going to let him do it on our court,” Malcolm Brogdon, who had 23 points and eight assists for the Pacers, said.

The Warriors improved to 22-5, taking top spot in the Western Conference standings after the Phoenix Suns (21-5) dropped a game in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

Marcus Morris Sr. led the home side with 24 points and 11 rebounds in the 111-95 win.

In Boston, Jayson Tatum scored 16 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter and the Celtics beat the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks 117-103.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists for the Bucks (18-10), who lost for just the third time in 15 games.

The Memphis Grizzlies dominated the Philadelphia 76ers, minus Joel Embiid (ribs) and Seth Curry (shoulder), at home for a 126-91 win.

Kristaps Porzingis notched a double-double (24 points, 13 rebounds) in the Dallas Mavericks’ 120-96 victory against the visiting Charlotte Hornets while a Nikola Jokic double-double (28 points, 19 rebounds) led the way for the Denver Nuggets in a 113-107 success over the Washington Wizards. 

Elsewhere, the Toronto Raptors routed the Sacramento Kings 124-101, the Houston Rockets triumphed 132-126 in Atlanta over the Hawks, and the Cleveland Cavaliers were 105-94 winners at home to the Miami Heat.