Curry surpasses Chamberlain as Warriors’ all-time leading scorer

San Francisco: Steph Curry erupted with 53 points to pass Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time Golden State scoring record on Monday as the Warriors downed the Denver Nuggets 116-107.

Curry -- who started the game needing only 19 points to overtake Chamberlain’s tally of 17,783 points set between 1959 and 1965 -- broke the record in a hurry, rattling in 21 points in the first quarter.

The 33-year-old passed Chamberlain’s mark with a driving layup towards the end of the first quarter, raising his arms in jubilation to acknowledge the milestone.

Curry’s final points haul included 10 three-pointers with seven rebounds and four assists.

“This is special man,” Curry said afterwards. “Now we’ve got the win, I can process what just happened.

“These last 12 years, all the team-mates I’ve played with, the coaching staff, the ownership, our fans -- I’ve had some amazing experiences here.”

Curry, selected by the Warriors with the seventh overall pick in the draft in 2009, acknowledged that it had taken him longer to reach Chamberlain’s tally.

“With Wilt, any time you hear his name you just assume his record’s unreachable,” Curry said.

“I did play six extra years here I guess, but it still means something to be at the top of that list.

“I’m forever grateful for everybody supporting me that lets me do what I get to do on the court.

Bradley Beal scored 34 points and Russell Westbrook bagged a triple double as the Washington Wizards ended the Utah Jazz’s 24-game home winning streak with a 125-121 victory in Salt Lake City on Monday.

Donovan Mitchell delivered a 42-point gem for Utah but could not prevent the under-strength Western Conference leaders from sliding to a surprise defeat against a Wizards team struggling near the foot of the East.

Utah, with Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson absent from the line-up, looked to be racing towards a 25th straight home victory after a dazzling opening quarter saw them put up 42 points.

Mitchell contributed 17 points in that burst of early scoring, but Washington responded superbly to outscore Utah 37-23 in the second for a 70-65 half-time lead.

Washington took control in the third period with a 19-8 run, and with Mitchell’s touch suddenly deserting him, Utah were left chasing the game in the fourth.

Beal’s 34-point display was complemented by Westbrook’s triple, with the 2017 NBA MVP finishing with 25 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists.

In Dallas, Joel Embiid outgunned Luka Doncic as the Philadelphia 76ers rolled to a 113-95 victory over the Mavericks on Monday.

Agencies