Steph Curry released the ball and grimaced. He made his free throw but he didn't swish it. The ball got a tiny piece of the rim before falling through the net.

When you're Steph Curry, these things matter.

So he shot again. Same thing. Made free throw, but the ball touched the rim.

He sighed and shook his head. The best shooter on Earth refused to finish his morning workout on such a deplorable note.

"He doesn't hit the rim too often," Bruce Fraser noted.

Fraser knows better than anyone. The Golden State Warriors assistant coach has served as Curry's rebounder after every practice and morning shootaround the past two years.

"Greatest job in the history of the NBA," Fraser said.

Minimal effort required and a front-row seat to one of the finest displays of individual and team excellence in NBA history.

Curry and the Warriors traveling circus blew into town Monday. For one night, they looked more like grinders than the Greatest Show in Sports, but even max effort from the Timberwolves wasn't enough to derail history in the making.

A 109-104 victory improved the Warriors' record to 63-7, keeping a bull's-eye on the Chicago Bulls' all-time mark of 72-10. "Seventy-three is within our sights," Curry said. "Let's go get it."

And while Curry didn't have a vintage Curry performance, his presence continued to haunt Wolves fans like a winning lottery ticket left on the store counter.

Curse you, David Kahn.

Curry could've been a Timberwolf, should've been a Timberwolf, but Kahn instead became smitten with Jonny Flynn's charm.

Curry had a pedestrian performance by his otherworldly standards, scoring only 19 points on 6-for-17 shooting, though he added 11 assists and seven rebounds.

"Obviously I have to play better," he said. "You can pretty much count on that."

The Warriors played like they were on autopilot, which is understandable considering how easy they make it look sometimes. They have become appointment viewing for NBA audiences because their style of play is unlike anything we've ever seen.

They play loose and more worry free than island time. They have unique chemistry that allows them to take shots without apprehension but also share the ball selflessly as if rationing portions.

They lead the league in scoring, three-point shooting and assists.

"We're pretty strong-minded and very versatile," Curry said.

They're fast approaching Jordan's Bulls in terms of market appeal. Fans congregated outside the Warriors' hotel throughout the day, hoping to get an autograph, a selfie, maybe just a glimpse of hoops royalty.

The game was a rare sellout at Target Center. One Wolves official estimated 3,000 fans arrived 75 minutes before tipoff just to watch Curry's warmup routine.

"Since probably January, it's felt like every game is our opponent's Super Bowl," coach Steve Kerr said. "We wouldn't have it any other way."

The main attraction is Curry, of course. He's redefining his position with his ball-handling flair and limitless range.

Curry makes difficult shots look effortless. He glides around the court, launching deep threes with a quick-trigger release, as if he's playing a game of H-O-R-S-E.

I asked Kerr how many guys he's seen in his career as player and coach that can match Curry's shooting range.

"Zero," he said.

Curry shoots around 100 shots after morning practice the day of a game and another 100 or so pregame, according to Fraser, his rebounder.

He takes between 250 and 300 shots after practice on non-game days. He concludes those sessions with 100 three-pointers from different spots.

Rarely does he make less than 80 percent of them.

"I think he's only been in the 70s twice in two years," Fraser said.

Curry's pregame warmup has turned into must-see spectacle for fans, home and road. Kerr compared it to fans that flocked to watch Barry Bonds take batting practice.

Curry starts with two-ball dribbling, followed by 20 minutes of shooting. Trick shots, deep three-pointers, high-arching floaters, left-handed jumpers. He puts on a show.

He received an ovation from fans at Target Center after he finished his routine with a rainbow three-pointer from the corner. A swish, no rim.

"If he's locked in and really going, he doesn't miss much," Fraser said. "He's the best shooter in the world."

Yes, sadly, we know. Too bad Kahn didn't get the memo.

Chip Scoggins • chip.scoggins@startribune.com