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It sounded like San Francisco.
The Knicks were invited to Stephen Curry’s 3-point record-setting party Tuesday night and watched history made while the Garden serenaded their longtime Golden State rival with a standing ovation.
Curry got his record and an easy win as the Warriors outlasted the depleted Knicks, 105-96, to keep them in lottery position at 12-16.
The Warriors’ superstar hugged just about everyone as the Garden scoreboard showed Curry’s image and the public address announcer congratulated him after setting the new all-time NBA mark for 3-pointers in a career, vaulting to 2,974.
Curry finished the night with 22 points, splashing a game-sealing 3 with 2:30 left and giving mighty Golden State a 97-85 cushion. He was 5 of 13 from 3-point land, leaving the court with 2,977 for his career.
Ray Allen, whose record was snapped, came onto the Garden court to embrace Curry as did Curry’s father, Dell, and mother, Sonia. Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr bear hugged Curry and gave him the ball as a keepsake.
The Knicks were a sideshow on this evening as Julius Randle led the way with 30 points, but they shot 35.8 percent with COVID-19 now wrecking their season.
Entering the game needing to make a pair to set a new 3-point record, Curry’s milestone shot came with 7:33 left in the first quarter from the right wing over Alec Burks.
Curry’s first 3 came one minute into the contest, sinking a 29-footer straightaway to tie Allen’s record as the Garden erupted in wild cheers as if Curry were wearing a Knicks jersey.
The outpouring of crowd noise stemmed from a packed Garden filled with not just a mass of Curry fans but Knicks patrons giving him his due.
“Pretty emotional, more emotional than I thought it would be,’’ Kerr said during a TNT halftime interview. “It was just beautiful — to hear the fan reaction. Just a fantastic moment.’’
Curry isn’t hated here, especially since Knicks fans realize he preferred to be drafted by New York in 2008 and almost was. His Davidson coach Bob McKillop was also on hand for the moment.
The Knicks needed this win and none of their players appeared to go over to Curry to congratulate him.
Beset by COVID-19, the Knicks had three players in protocols — Obi Toppin, RJ Barrett and rookie Quentin Grimes, who was the latest to test positive.
So it served as another night of disrespecting veteran point guard Kemba Walker, who is eligible to be traded Wednesday. They are 1-7 since his official demotion from the lineup.
Walker did not play for an eighth straight game. One conspiracy theory is the Knicks have a trade in place and don’t want to risk injury to his arthritic left knee.
As a backup point guard to Derrick Rose, Thibodeau turned to rookie point guard Miles McBride, a second-round pick, and he promptly drained two 3-pointers in the first half.
After Curry’s historic shot settled through the rim, the Knicks inbounded, the Warriors’ Kevin Looney intentionally fouled and Kerr called timeout so the moment could be cherished. And it was. For several minutes — beyond a normal timeout.
That seemed OK to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who also commemorated the record with his own statement, calling it “thrilling.’’
In the final minute of the third quarter, Curry made a big shot to grease the win, drilling a long left wing 3 on a second-chance opportunity. It pulled the Warriors in front by 69-61 after the Knicks had a one-point halftime lead.
Kerr said before the game he knew it would be extra special for Curry to do it on Broadway.
“It’s the mecca,’’ Kerr said. “This is the spot. The place if you ask any player in the NBA their favorite arena, I would guess the majority of them would say the Garden. I know it’s mine. It’s my favorite atmosphere in the league. There’s a ton of history here. It’s New York. It would be great to happen [Tuesday].’’
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