Watch: Stephen Curry erupts for 51 points, 10 threes against Magic
Stephen Curry wasn’t willing to settle for a record-setting night.
The reigning MVP, who began his evening by making a three-pointer in his NBA-record 128th consecutive game, went on to score 51 points in Golden State’s 130–114 road victory over Orlando.
Curry becomes the first player to top the 50-point plateau three times in the same season since Cleveland’s LeBron James and Miami’s Dwyane Wade accomplished the feat in 2008–09. He becomes the first member of the Warriors to hit 50-plus points three times in the same season since Rick Barry in 1973–74.
• WATCH: Stephen Curry breaks record with three in 128th straight game
Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson (2004–05) Washington’s Gilbert Arenas (2006–07) and L.A.’s Kobe Bryant (2002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07) are the only other players to post three or more 50-plus point games since 2000.
This was an onslaught of epic proportions, as Curry shot 20 for 27 from the field, 10 for 15 from deep and converted his only one free-throw attempt to get to 51. That performance, which was highlighted by a banked-in half-court buzzer beater, gave Curry a 92.9 True Shooting % on the evening.
Curry also became the first player in NBA history to hit 10 or more three-pointers in a game multiple times in the same season.
Earlier this year, the NBA’s scoring leader tallied a season-high 53 points against the Pelicans on Oct. 31 and scored 51 points against the Wizards on Feb. 3.
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Golden State improved its NBA-best record to 52–5. Orlando fell to 25–31.