Golden State guard Stephen Curry reacts after connecting on a 3-pointer against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, breaking the record set by Ray Allen. Mary Altaffer/Associated Press

NEW YORK — Stephen Curry has shot his way to the top of the NBA record book for 3-pointers.

Curry hit his 2,974th 3-pointer Tuesday night in the first quarter of the Golden State Warriors’ game against the New York Knicks, breaking the record set by Ray Allen.

Curry hit the shot from the right wing with 7:33 remaining, waving his arms toward the sky as he jogged backward down court. The Warriors then committed a foul and quickly called timeout to let the celebration begin.

Curry went and embraced his father, Dell Curry, who was seated along a baseline, while Bob McKillop, his coach at Davidson, stood in the stands and beamed alongside Larry Riley, who drafted Curry for the Warriors. Then came a hug from Warriors teammate Draymond Green among others and, finally, Curry trotted back across the court for a long embrace and a few congratulatory words from Allen.

Curry finished with 22 points – with five 3-pointers – as Golden State beat New York, 105-96.

Curry is often considered the league’s greatest shooter, and the numbers back him up. He already owns two of the top three seasons for 3-pointers – including the only season with 400 3s – and now has the career record Allen had held since passing Reggie Miller in 2011. Curry’s mark could last much longer, as he is taking and making 3s better than anyone in basketball. He came in averaging a career-high 5.4 per game and went 5 for 14 Tuesday, giving him a league-leading 145. Nobody else had made 100 entering play Tuesday.

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The record came at Madison Square Garden, where Curry had one of his early career highlights on Feb. 27, 2013, when he made 11 3-pointers and scored 54 points. He’s gone on to win two MVP awards and three championships while becoming one of the biggest, most popular stars in the game.

“I had great support here,” Curry said during the TNT postgame interview, “This arena, I can’t express how much of an honor that was for the reaction here on the road and the appreciation for this milestone. And obviously, it was great to get the win on top of that. So, a very, very, very special night.”

Curry hit from straightaway on his first attempt, and fans around the arena stood as he was dribbling the ball across center court on the next possession. He launched an ugly attempt that he missed.

The record-breaker came on his next shot and was vintage Curry. He gave the ball up and eventually raced back to the outside, getting the ball back and seemingly launching it in the same motion before a defender could get out to him.

It’s that quick shot – whether after catching it or on the dribble – that’s made him a shooter unlike any before him.

“He’s the best shooter I’ve ever seen, and I think it’s clear he is the best catch-and-shoot player,” former Dallas superstar Dirk Nowitzki said. “But where he’s so good is off the dribble, and I think that’s something that he added, the quick 3 off the dribble. It’s one motion and his shot is gone.”

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NETS 131, RAPTORS 129: Kevin Durant got his 14th triple-double of his career, Patty Mills made a 3 to force overtime and shorthanded Brooklyn beat visiting Toronto.

Durant was upgraded from questionable just before the game because Brooklyn has seven players in the NBA’s health and safety protocol, including starters James Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre’ Bembry. He responded to the last-minute add by scoring 34 points, pulling down 13 rebounds and dished out 11 assists.

Brooklyn won its third straight, with Mills adding 30 points, Kessler Edwards contributing 17, Nic Claxton chipping in 16 and Blake Griffin recording 13 before fouling out in overtime.

NOTES

LAKERS: Forward Talen Horton-Tucker has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

The Lakers also canceled practice Tuesday ahead of their flight to Dallas for a game on Wednesday night.

The 21-year-old Horton-Tucker is averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists as a regular starter for the Lakers (15-13), who have won 5 of 7.

Los Angeles’ up-and-down season has been affected by injuries more than virus concerns. LeBron James missed a game at Sacramento earlier this month and had to travel separately back home after an apparent false positive test.

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