Lead: In Monday’s win in Brooklyn, Stephen Curry moved past Kevin Garnett on the NBA’s career scoring ladder with a fourth-quarter 3-pointer that gave him sole possession of the No. 21 spot. Curry finished the game with 27 points as the Golden State Warriors beat the Nets 120-107. The milestone came days after Curry became the 22nd player in NBA history to reach 26,000 career points on Christmas Day. The victory was the Warriors’ fourth in five games and ended Brooklyn’s three-game winning streak.
Key Takeaways
- Stephen Curry passed Kevin Garnett (26,071) for 21st on the NBA all-time points list with a fourth-quarter 3-pointer in Brooklyn.
- Curry scored 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 5-of-12 from three in the 120-107 win.
- He had a 10-point run in the third quarter (two 3-pointers, one field goal and two free throws) that swung momentum toward Golden State.
- Curry was the 22nd player ever to reach 26,000 career points, a mark he achieved earlier on Christmas Day against Dallas.
- After the game Curry’s career total stands at 26,076, placing him 319 points behind John Havlicek (26,395) and 321 behind Paul Pierce (26,397).
- The Warriors improved to four wins in five games; the Nets’ three-game streak was snapped.
Background
Stephen Curry entered this stretch of the season already climbing the NBA’s all-time scoring list, a conversation that has grown louder as he extends a Hall of Fame résumé. The Warriors have leaned on Curry’s scoring and playmaking throughout the year while balancing roster changes and injury management. Kevin Garnett, a 15-time All-Star and Hall of Famer, held the 21st spot with 26,071 career points before Monday’s game in Brooklyn. Passing Garnett moves Curry past a long line of accomplished scorers from different eras, underscoring both longevity and sustained efficiency.
The NBA’s all-time points list often highlights shifts in style and opportunity: earlier eras had more minutes for individual scorers, while modern spacing and 3-point volume have created new scoring pathways. Curry’s rise reflects the three-point era as much as personal durability — he joined the 26,000-point club on Dec. 25, then added to that total in the games that followed. Stakeholders include the Warriors organization, which markets Curry as the franchise centerpiece, and rival teams that now prepare for matchups against a player still adding to a historic career ledger.
Main Event
Monday’s contest in Brooklyn saw Curry produce a steady offensive performance capped by the milestone 3-pointer in the fourth quarter that officially elevated him to 21st all time. The shot came after a sequence that began in the third quarter, when Curry scored 10 straight points to pull the Warriors ahead and build momentum. He finished 8-of-15 from the field and 5-of-12 from distance, a line that combined efficient creation with volume from beyond the arc. Golden State’s supporting cast provided enough balance on offense and defense to protect the lead down the stretch.
The 120-107 final reflected both Curry’s individual achievement and the team’s form; the Warriors have won four of their last five games. Defensively, Golden State tightened rotations late in the second half and limited the Nets’ attempts to climb back into the contest. Brooklyn, playing at home, had its three-game win streak snapped, and coaches on both sides flagged adjustments for upcoming matchups. Postgame, attention quickly turned to the historical context of Curry’s climb up the scoring list.
Analysis & Implications
Curry’s move to No. 21 is significant for several reasons. Statistically, reaching 26,076 career points places him among an exclusive group of high-volume scorers across eras; the pace at which he accumulates those points — driven by three-point shooting and playmaking — differs from that of players who rose in earlier decades. Practically, Curry’s continued scoring output keeps Golden State competitive in a crowded Western Conference and forces opponents to devote defensive resources to him every night.
From a legacy standpoint, climbing the scoring ladder bolsters Curry’s Hall of Fame case and reshapes era-to-era comparisons. He now sits closer to John Havlicek and Paul Pierce, two Hall of Famers with different playing profiles, meaning Curry’s final rank will likely be influenced by his health, minutes management, and changes in team strategy. If Curry averages his current per-game scoring over the remainder of the season, passing Havlicek and Pierce is mathematically possible but will still require sustained availability.
There are also team-level implications: Golden State’s rotations and load management policies will be tested as they weigh the benefits of maximizing Curry’s scoring totals against preserving him for playoff contention. Opponents, meanwhile, may increasingly scheme to limit his touches in critical stretches — an approach that could create more scoring chances for his teammates and alter game outcomes. Internationally and in media narratives, the milestone reinforces Curry’s status as a transformational scorer whose career will be measured against both raw totals and influences on how the game is played.
Comparison & Data
| Rank | Player | Career Points |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Paul Pierce | 26,397 |
| 20 | John Havlicek | 26,395 |
| 21 | Stephen Curry | 26,076 |
| 22 | Kevin Garnett | 26,071 |
The table shows the immediate neighborhood on the all-time scoring list after Curry’s milestone. Curry sits 319 points behind Havlicek and 321 behind Pierce; those gaps frame a near-term target that is achievable in multiple weeks depending on game frequency and scoring output. Historically, moving several spots on the list has become more dynamic in the modern era because of expanded seasons and different offensive roles, but the presence of Hall of Famers in the same tier underscores the durability required to reach these thresholds.
Reactions & Quotes
Team spokespeople and analysts emphasized the dual nature of the moment: a personal milestone layered on a team victory that keeps the Warriors in form.
“This is a huge night for Steph and for our group — he keeps finding ways to help us win,”
Golden State Warriors representative (postgame comments via team recap)
League and data-focused observers framed the achievement within Curry’s career arc and the evolving scoring environment.
“Moving into the top 25 on the all-time list highlights longevity and the transformational impact of his shooting,”
NBA analyst (game recap)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Curry’s minutes will be altered specifically to chase higher spots on the scoring list is not confirmed and depends on team load-management decisions.
- Any future rank changes projected in media reports remain speculative until games are played and official stats are updated.
Bottom Line
Stephen Curry passing Kevin Garnett for 21st on the NBA’s all-time scoring list is both a personal landmark and a reflection of modern scoring trends. The milestone underscores Curry’s sustained excellence and the role of three-point shooting in building career totals that compare across eras.
Practically, the achievement bolsters Curry’s legacy and provides a near-term objective — closing a roughly 320-point gap to reach the top 20 — that will be tracked throughout the season. For fans and analysts, the event is a reminder that career milestones occur in the context of team performance, and Curry’s continued production will be judged by both individual numbers and their contribution to winning.
Sources
- NBA.com game recap (official league recap)
- Basketball-Reference all-time scoring list (statistical database)