Curry vs. the Sixers: The Steph Show comes to Philly

Steph Curry needs to hit 10 three-pointers on Saturday night to break Ray Allen’s all-time record. Sure, 10 threes is a lot to ask, but Curry has hit at least that many 22 times in his career, including his last visit to the Wells Fargo Center.

Curry, though, actually had struggled in Philadelphia before dropping 49 points on the Sixers in April. He had shot just 29 percent from beyond the arc (24-83) in his first nine games here, before drilling 10 for 17 of his three-pointers in a Warriors win last spring.

Allen Iverson’s right. Watching Curry “is like going to a concert.” The curtain rises on his next South Philly appearance at 8:30 on Saturday night (6ABC). Don’t be late.

— The Warriors have won seven in a row in Philadelphia with Curry in the lineup. His 49 points in April are tied for the fifth-most by an opponent. Washington’s Bradley Beal dropped 60 here in January.

— Curry has attempted 100 three-pointers at the Wells Fargo Center and hit 34. He’s a 34.0% three-point shooter at the Wells Fargo Center, a 43.3% everywhere else.

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— He averages 25.8 points per game here, with a high of 49 and a low of 14. That 14-point game was in his first trip to Philadelphia, Dec. 14, 2009. The Sixers won by 16 with a starting lineup of Samuel Dalembert, Jrue Holiday, Andre Iguodala, Allen Iverson and Thaddeus Young. Eddie Jordan was the coach.

— The most points Curry’s ever had in a road game is 57 at Dallas earlier last season. His career high is 62 which also was last season, against Portland.

The next five: Joe Johnson (81 3PM/44.5%), Glen Rice (80/36.9%), Kemba Walker (80/33.1%), Steph Curry (78/39.0%), Allan Houston (78/38.2%).

Notables: Dirk Nowitzki (51/41.8%), Kobe Bryant (50/35.0%), Larry Bird (37/34.6%), Michael Jordan (35/30.2%).

Best percentage, minimum 100 attempts: Mark Price (50.0%, 50-100).

The next five (plus one): J.J. Redick (433/40.7), Lou Williams (373/33.7%), Hollis Thompson (357/38.9%), Furkan Korkmaz (333/36.6%), Dana Barros (332/42.6%), Joel Embiid (317/33.2%).

Best percentage, minimum 100 attempts: Seth Curry 179-410 (43.7%).

Worst percentage, minimum 100 attempts: is Andre Miller 19-106 (17.9%)

Record holders for career three pointers made: Brian Taylor (1979-81), Joe Hassett (1981-84), Darrell Griffith (1984-85), Larry Bird (1985-88), Dale Ellis (1988-90), Michael Adams (1990-92), Ellis again (1992-97), Reggie Miller (1997-2010), Ray Allen (since 2010-11).

— Curry has played 21 games against the Sixers. He’s attempted 100 three-pointers here, and 100 three-pointers in Oakland/San Fran. He shoots 34.0% here, 44.0% at home.

— Curry (+135) continues to be the favorite for MVP at BetMGM. Kevin Durant (+500) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (+550) are next. Joel Embiid is at +3000.

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— FanDuel last week said 24% of their handle on MVP betting was on Curry. Durant was next, then Embiid.

— Through Thursday, Curry (27.5) is second in the league in scoring behind Kevin Durant (28.4), first in three-pointers made (132), first in free throw percentage (93.4), and 10th in steals (1.75).

— PointsBet has odds of +500 that Curry will break the three-point record on Saturday against the Sixers. They’re -200 that he’ll do so on Sunday at Indiana, +325 on Monday at New York, and +4000 next Friday in Boston.

— Curry is averaging 5.5 made threes a game, a career-high here in his 13th season. He reached 100 made threes in his 19th game, fastest ever. Larry Bird never made more than 100 threes in a season.

— The Warriors entered Friday with the best record in the league at 21-4. Through 25 games last season, they were 13-12. The Sixers are 14-12. This time last year they were 18-8.

— Curry, who turns 34 on March 14, also is bearing down on the record for most consecutive games with a three-pointer. He’s at 149. The record is 157, which he owns. He’s the only player in NBA history with two streaks of 100-plus. Amazing.

Allen Iverson on Steph Curry

Around the time of his 2016 induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Allen Iverson was asked about Steph Curry, who was putting the finishing touches on his second consecutive MVP award.

“We ain’t never seen nothing like this, man,” Iverson said. “I get my popcorn, put it between my legs, get my daughter, go downstairs, get some ice and Country Time Lemonade and I sit there and I got to watch him, man. I don’t care who they’re playing. I got to watch him. I have to.

“It’s entertainment. It’s like going to a concert. We ain’t never seen nobody that could shoot like Steph and handle the ball like that, too.”

Sources: Inquirer research, Basketball-Reference.com