WASHINGTON (AFP) - Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry set a National Basketball Association record with his first three-pointer of the night against the Magic in Orlando on Thursday - and he was just getting warmed up.
Curry's three-pointer with 5:42 remaining in the first quarter marked his 128th straight regular-season game with at least one basket from beyond the arc, breaking the record he shared with Kyle Korver.
"This was Steph's night," Magic coach Scott Skiles said. "He tricked us so many times. He runs. He stops. He relaxes, causes you to relax, and then he's gone. That happened at least a dozen times.
"And it's not like he didn't do anything else," Skiles added. "He never gets tired. He just runs and runs and runs. It's very impressive."
That energy was key for the Warriors, coach Steve Kerr said, a night after their hard-fought victory in Miami.
"Our guys were tired," Kerr said. "There was no enthusiasm. He just lit a fire under us tonight."
Curry finished with 10 three-pointers and 51 points in the Warriors' 130-114 triumph over the Magic and notched his third game this season of at least 50 points.
In 34 minutes on court he also handed out eight assists and pulled down seven rebounds.
He now has 276 three-pointers this season - 10 less than the record he set last season in leading the Warriors to the NBA crown.
Curry scored 24 points in the third quarter, including a three-pointer from half-court as the buzzer sounded that lifted the Warriors to a 99-91 lead going into the final frame.
"The three-point shot is like a lay-up to him," Kerr said. "It's what he does. The half-court shot is like a three-pointer for everyone else."
The Warriors, chasing the NBA record of 72 regular-season wins set by the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls of 1995-96, improved to 52-5.
Forward Draymond Green and centre Andrew Bogut scored 12 points apiece for the Warriors. Forward Harrison Barnes added 10. Reserve centre Marreese Speights scored 14 points, including eight in the fourth period.
The Magic were led by guard Evan Fournier with 20 points. Forward Aaron Gordon had a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds.
Centre Nikola Vucevic had 17 points and nine rebounds for Orlando, who led 63-59 at half-time, but were helpless as the Warriors pulled away in the fourth.
