It was another one of those historic nights for Steph Curry.
The NBA star reached a remarkable milestone on Thursday night to cap off the Warriors’ win while Charles Barkley was left embarrassed on national TV after his confident bet.
Curry became the first player in NBA history to reach 4,000 career 3-pointers as the Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings, 130-104.
It was the Warriors’ sixth straight win and 11th victory out of 12 as they enjoy a wave of positive momentum spearheaded by Jimmy Butler’s arrival.
The night ultimately belonged to Curry, who’s 28-foot 3-pointer in the third quarter to reach the milestone saw fans jump to their feet.
“It’s a clear milestone threshold,” Curry told reporters.
“A number that I didn’t think about, that it was realistic even from 2,974, which is a number that means the most because that was the record at the time.
“It’s beyond my wildest dreams to push a record that far.”
The game was so geared towards Curry reaching this milestone that the Warriors were committing turnovers that allowed the Kings to cut a 23-point second-quarter deficit to four before he hit the mark.
“There was a point in the game where we all were just trying to make it happen, but to see him cross that milestone that no one has ever crossed is very fitting,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said.
“The way he changed the game, how important he made the 3-point shot to the game of basketball.”
At halftime, the Warriors’ focus on Curry’s milestone led Charles Barkley to confidently predict — to the extent he would put money on it — that Sacramento were going to make a comeback and win.
“I’m not even worried about it. Sacramento Kings, they’re going to win this game,” Barkley told his fellow ‘Inside the NBA’ panelists.
“All they’ve got to do is take care of the ball.”
When Barkley was told the Warriors were 12-1 when Butler plays, he confidently responded that wouldn’t be the case against the Kings.
“Well, they’re going to be 12-2,” Barkley said. “How about that?”
Fellow TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal then put cash on the table to confirm the bet and ultimately it would be one Barkley would lose.
As for Curry, who turns 37 in two days, his focus will be on attempting to record as many more 3-pointers as he can before he retires and possibly reach the 5,000 mark.
Although the four-time NBA champion admitted that reaching that milestone depends on the health of his knees.
“I don’t know how many more I got after that,” Curry told ESPN last week.
“Keep pushing it to as far as I can. I think it’s one of those things that just puts into perspective just how the game has changed and I’ve been able to be a part of that.”
While Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr is confident he’ll reach the 5,000 mark.
“So he just keeps going the way he keeps himself in shape and conditioned in rhythm,” Kerr said.
He’s going to make another 1,000 for sure.”
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With the NBA hurtling towards playoff season next month, there’s plenty riding on the remaining games.
Reigning champions the Boston Celtics are chasing back-to-back titles, and will be the first team to do this since 2018 if they’re successful.
Meanwhile, LeBron James and Luka Dončić’s Lakers are looking to win LA’s first championship since 2020.
To watch the rest of this NBA season, sign up for an NBA League pass using the links below. NBA League pass allows subscribers to watch games live and on demand.
- Buy NBA League Pass – £79.99 for the season, £16.99 a month
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