When Was the Last Game Steph Curry Didn‘t Make a 3-Pointer?
As a lifelong NBA fanatic and Golden State Warriors supporter, I was shocked when the greatest shooter who has ever lived, Stephen Curry, failed to make a single 3-point shot during Game 5 of the 2022 NBA Finals. For the first time in an astonishing 233 straight postseason appearances, the baby-faced assassin concluded a playoff contest without a made basket from beyond the arc, missing all nine attempts.
Considering Curry‘s position as the undisputed greatest 3-point shooter in basketball history, this game put into perspective just how exceptionally rare it is to witness him conclude a performance without a 3-ball finding the bottom of the net.
Analyzing Steph‘s Shocking 0-9 Performance in Game 5 of the 2022 Finals
Entering a vital Game 5 contest with the series knotted at two games apiece, many expected Curry to regain his shooting form after struggling in Golden State‘s Game 4 loss. However, Curry seemed out of rhythm from the opening tip, missing all four 3-point tries in the first half. His patented warm-up tunnel shot abandoned him, as Steph missed his first nine 3-point looks before the final buzzer.
For context, Curry sunk 43.7% of his 3-point looks during the regular season while averaging a league-leading 4.5 makes per game. Between an injured lower leg still hindering his movement and Boston‘s stifling defense, he converted an uncharacteristically low percentage of quality perimeter looks:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| 3PT Makes-Attempts | 0-9 |
| Overall FG% | 31.8% |
| Points | 16 |
| Boston Defensive Rating | 106.6 (Regular Season) |
| Boston 3PT% Allowed | 34.1% (Regular Season) |
Despite Curry‘s shooting struggles, the Warriors gutted out an ugly 104-94 victory to claim a 3-2 Finals lead. Still, his 0-fer from deep marked a playoff first in his illustrious career.
Snapping a Record 233 Straight Postseason Games with Made 3s
Before that alarming Game 5 outing, Stephen Curry had connected on at least one 3-pointer across an incredible 233 consecutive playoff contests since 2013. For perspective, the next longest such streak belongs to Danny Green at 69 straight postseason appearances with a make from beyond the arc.
Essentially, apart from this anomalous 2022 Finals performance, Steph has converted shots from all over the court in every postseason game since his early Golden State tenure alongside the likes of David Lee and Jarrett Jack:
That remarkable display of consistency underscores how lethal he has remained from the perimeter, regardless of defensive game-planning geared solely to limit his production. In my view as an obsessive NBA spectator, this streak spotlighted his generational shooting range and proficiency better than any single-game scoring burst could.
Putting Curry‘s Shooting Prowess in Perspective
While Curry‘s 2022 Finals Game 5 disappearance shocked the NBA landscape, his overall body of work cements his status as the most dangerous 3-point threat the hardwood has ever seen:
- 4 seasons leading NBA in 3PT makes (finished 2nd on two other occasions)
- 7 seasons averaging 4+ made 3s per game (no other player has more than 2)
- 3 seasons connecting on 45%+ of 3-point tries (only Steve Kerr matches this)
- 402 made 3s in 2015-16 stands as NBA record
Diving deeper into the numbers underscores how peerless the Baby Faced Assassin rates compared to history‘s most lethal long-range artists:
| Shooter | 3PT Makes | 3PT % | 3PT Titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | 3,101 | 43.1% | 2x Scoring Title |
| Ray Allen | 2,973 | 40.0% | |
| Reggie Miller | 2,560 | 39.5% |
The numbers speak for themselves. Curry‘s shooting metrics across the board exceed the leading lights of past eras not just by degrees, but by entire tiers of lethal efficiency. His 2015-16 MVP and 2022 Finals campaigns rank as two of the greatest scoring seasons ever witnessed.
Games Without Made 3s Remain Extremely Rare for Steph
For all of his shooting mastery, Curry has certainly endured his share of occasional duds like any player. But it is exceptionally uncommon to witness him fail to make at least a single 3 in today‘s pace-and-space era leading the Dubs attack:
- 39 regular season games with 0 made 3s
- Most during early career or injury-impacted seasons
- Outside of 2022 Finals Game 5, made 3+ 3-pointers in every playoff game
In fact, Curry pieced together a streak of 157 consecutive regular season contests with a made triple between 2012 and 2014, displaying nightly excellence despite being the undisputed focal point of defensive game plans.
But excluding fluke performances, Curry‘s silky perimeter stroke remains as reliable as death and taxes when toe hits hardwood.
The Ageless Wonder‘s Pursuit of More All-Time 3PT Records
As Curry enters the back-nine of his 30s, he has exhibited zero drop-off as a marksman or scorer, capturing his first Finals MVP trophy last summer. In an era centered wholly around prolific long-range buckets, Steph continues lengthening his advantage over history‘s most potent shooters:
Barring injury, by my estimation, he should become the first NBA player ever to surpass the hallowed 5,000 made triples threshold at some point next season. Meanwhile, shooting 45% on ultra-high 3-point volume appears firmly within reach for years to come.
In many ways, Curry‘s current extended peak primes him to put distance between himself and the Allen‘s and Miller‘s of yesteryear. He seemingly cannot miss right now – apart from that anomalous 2022 Finals Game 5…
The Bottom Line on Steph‘s Rare Non-Made 3 Games
While the baby-faced Chef‘s 2022 Finals shooting dud rightfully shocked the NBA landscape given his track record, it was more aberration than the dawn of decline. With Curry cementing his warrior legacy with a Finals MVP-winning postseason, his first playoff goose egg from deep underscored how exceptionally rare such games prove for the greatest shooter humanity has ever witnessed.
