SAN FRANCISCO — Steph Curry’s sprained right thumb was so bad, he went through Wednesday’s light practice while only using his left hand.
Yet one night later, he did something he’d never done in an NBA game before: hit eight 3-pointers without missing any.
Before Thursday night’s blowout win over Philadelphia, Curry’s personal perfection record was 6-for-6 from behind the arc, which he’d done twice. The all-time record for a perfect 3-point night is 9-for-9 held by three players. But against the Sixers, Curry became the first player ever to add double-digit assists to an 8-for-8 masterpiece.
He finished with 30 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and the Warriors won his minutes by 32.
“He deserves these nights,” coach Steve Kerr said. “Everything he does for us and endures. It’s so much fun to see him do this. Our fans and our coaches — we’re all spoiled, you know, watching him play night after night. We need to cherish these nights. He’s not going to be around forever. And he’s one of the most beautiful basketball players who’s ever lived, and we’re lucky to be watching him.”
Curry has been so special, for so long, that hardly anything he does is surprising anymore. Yet going 8-for-8 from downtown deserves some serious flowers.
Here is a completely unscientific ranking of his eight bombs from Thursday night at Chase Center.
No. 8: He knows he’s got it going (3Q – 5:29)
Guarding Curry, Paul George fell asleep on defense as he collapsed on a Buddy Hield drive that was going nowhere. Hield kicked out to Curry for his fifth 3 of the night. At that point, everyone in the building knew the next one was going up (more on that later).
After that one went down, Curry put both of his hands on his head in disbelief.
No. 7 Classic corner 3 (2Q – 2:35)
The Sixers were threatening to make a run, cutting the Warriors’ 19-point lead to 10. But off a second chance aided by a lethargic Philadelphia effort, Curry relocated to the corner and hit a corner 3 over a late contest from Eric Gordon.
The 76ers never got that close again.
No. 6: Letting the offense come to him (2Q – 9:55)
After the game, Curry said he didn’t feel like he forced any of his 3-point attempts, especially in the first half. Case in point: a wheeling catch-and-shoot 3 off a down screen.
It’s fitting that one of Curry’s 3s came off a pet action they’ve been running for years and was assisted by Draymond Green, who has dished to Curry for thousands of buckets over the past 12 years.
No. 5: Joel Embiid, what are you doing? (3Q – 9:38)
Rarely do you see a defender running away from Curry as he gets his feet set for a 3. Embiid was one of three 76ers in the vicinity of Curry as he pulled up in transition, and none of them contested his shot.
The play started with a great hit-ahead pass from Dennis Schroder, who’s playing much faster — to the Warriors’ liking — now that he’s starting to get his feet under him.
No. 4: Fly-by night numero uno (1Q – 11:39)
Curry’s first 3 of the game came on the Warriors’ first possession. Quick ball movement scrambled the Sixers’ defense. After a ball screen action and swing to the corner, Embiid was caught on the perimeter, where he’s much less comfortable. Curry pump-faked him out of his shoes, waited a half-beat for him to clear out of his shooting space, and fired from the wing.
DeMar DeRozan and Embiid usually get credited as having the best pump fakes in the game, but Curry has turned his into such an elite weapon, too.
It was Curry’s first 3 of the night, and he celebrated by throwing both arms up in the air.
“At the end of the day, you just want to play free and have fun,” Curry said. “I celebrated my first 3, just to try to infuse some joy into the game.”
No. 3 From way downtown (4Q – 9:33)
Matching his deepest 3 of the night, Curry rose up from 31 feet early in the fourth quarter. Why did Ricky Council IV go under Draymond Green’s half-hearted high ball screen? The world may never know.
No. 2: Magic No. 8 (4Q – 9:11)
Curry and the blazing-hot Warriors had already put the game out of hand, but there was history to be made. Eight 3-pointers were Curry’s most makes without a miss, and one shy of the all-time record (held by Jalen Brunson, Latrell Sprewell and Ben Gordon).
On the TNT broadcast, Hall of Fame sharpshooter Reggie Miller exclaimed, “What is going on here? What is absolutely happening?”
No. 1 The banker (3Q – 4:49)
After drilling his fifth 3, Curry needed a heat check. He earned a heat check. And he cashed it in.
“Those last ones, it’s just, that’s your night and you’ve just got to laugh and have some fun with it,” Curry said.
Curry put his hands on his head in disbelief. When it rains, it splashes.