Stephen Curry's remarkable free throw streak, which stood at 51 consecutive makes, came to an end Monday night during the Golden State Warriors' 116-113 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Curry missed a free throw with under six seconds remaining and the Warriors leading by two points, a rarity for the NBA's most efficient free-throw shooter.
Despite the uncommon miss, Curry still finished the game with 33 points, marking his third consecutive game with 30 or more points. At 38 years old, this scoring feat places him in elite company, joining LeBron James and Michael Jordan as the only players older than 38 to achieve three straight 30-point games.
"I'm shocked when I miss anytime," Curry said with a smirk after the game. Warriors coach Steve Kerr attributed the miss to the law of averages, noting Curry's career free-throw percentage of 91.3%.
Curry's streak included two of the four longest stretches of consecutive made free throws to start an NBA season. He was pursuing records held by Steve Nash (53 in 2007-08) and Jose Calderon (84 in 2008-09).
His 33 points, including 11 made free throws, five three-pointers, and four shots from inside the arc, were ultimately enough to secure the Warriors' fifth win in a row. The miss, while noteworthy, did not impact the game's outcome.