Yahoo Finance 'Beyond special': Steph Curry shatters 57-year NBA record
Steph Curry has staked his claim as the greatest player in Golden State Warriors history thanks to a 53-point explosion on Tuesday which elevated him to the franchise's leading scorer.
The two-time NBA MVP surpassed basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain's scoring record for the Warriors in a 116-107 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
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Selected by the Warriors with the seventh pick in the 2009 NBA draft, Curry surpassed Chamberlain's franchise scoring record of 17,784 points after scoring 23 points in the first quarter alone.
Chamberlain's franchise scoring record had stood since 1964, making Curry the Warriors' brightest start in 53 years.
The 33-year-old point guard raised his arms in celebration and blew a kiss into the air after surpassing the legendary former Warrior.
53 points.
10 threes.
7 straight 30-point games.
3rd 50-point game of season.@warriors all-time leading scorer.@StephenCurry30. pic.twitter.com/epG9V43tAV— NBA (@NBA) April 13, 2021
Curry went into the matchup against the Nuggest requiring less than 20 points to surpass Chamberlain, easily eclipsing that with a vintage shooting performance.
He needed just 24 shots for his 53 points, which included 10 made three pointers - the 18th time Curry has done so.
For comparison, teammate Klay Thompson has made 10 triples in a game five times.
"What he's doing is ridiculous. Nobody has ever shot the ball like this."
-Steve Kerr talks about the legacy of Steph Curry, and what he means to the Warriors after Steph drops 53 on his way to becoming the dubs all-time leading scorer. @kron4news #DubNation #NBA #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/mplK0EYFy4— Kylen Mills (@KylenMills) April 13, 2021
Speaking about Curry's influence and standing within the Warriors organisation prior to the game, head coach Steve Kerr said there was no doubt he had changed the way basketball is played.
“It’s just an incredible feat,” Kerr said of surpassing Chamberlain.
“Passing Wilt in anything statistically is sort of remarkable because his name is all over the record books.
"So the fact that Steph is about to break that record is just incredible and obviously a testament to what he’s done here in his 12 years and impact he’s made.
“I don’t know if breaking that record even tells the story because what Steph brings goes so far beyond points. It’s the impact on his teammates, the community, the organisation, the style of play, just how unique he is.
“As an individual, he has changed the game, inspired all the young NBA point guards who have come up to be much better shooters. He has changed the game, so as awesome as this accomplishment is, passing Wilt, it’s just one of many for Steph.”
There was plenty of love for Curry on social media after he broke the record, which will likely remain the Warriors' high mark for many years to come.
Cool postgame Zoom moment: Chris Mullin congratulating Steph Curry on becoming the all-time points leader in Warriors history with a message you could tell meant a lot to Curry pic.twitter.com/te2Po68t3Z
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 13, 2021
I can’t stand that light skinned brother with the green eyes down there in the Bay Area!!! That man Steph Curry is beyond special and the true definition of Generational Talent! He gave Jokic and the Nuggets a good spanking tonight with a 53 piece spicy with extra ranch. My God!
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) April 13, 2021
Steph Curry is just so special.
— Ashley Nevel (@AshleyNevel) April 13, 2021
Steph Curry is so good that if there more shooters as good as him we’d have to change the rules
— jason c. (@netw3rk) April 13, 2021
Joel Embiid dominates as Sixers rout Mavericks
In Dallas, Joel Embiid scored 36 points to guide the Philadelphia 76ers past the Mavericks,113-95.
The Sixers moved above the Brooklyn Nets for top spot in the eastern conference before their final regular-season meeting.
The Nets' game at Minnesota was called off because of the shooting death of a black man by police in the Minneapolis area.
Philadelphia's Furkan Korkmaz matched his season high with 20 points while Tobias Harris scored 10 and Ben Simmons had eight points, six rebounds and seven assists.
Utah's franchise-record 24-game home-winning streak came to an end with the Washington Wizards upsetting the hosts 125-121 in Salt Lake City.
The Phoenix Suns tied an NBA record with 18 3-pointers in the first half of their 126-120 victory over the Houston Rockets, which has them right on the heels of the western conference leading Jazz.
Two nights after dominating the Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 111-96 loss to the New York Knicks.
The defending NBA champions are 5-7 since LeBron James sprained his ankle on March 20 to join fellow All-Star Anthony Davis on the sidelines while the Knicks have won three in a row.
With AAP
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