Which NBA Player Holds the Record for Most 3s in a Single Game?

As I was watching the Golden State Warriors game last night, seeing Steph Curry sink yet another three-pointer, I found myself wondering about the absolute limits of long-range shooting in the NBA. Which player actually holds the record for the most three-pointers in a single game? This isn't just casual curiosity—as someone who's spent years analyzing basketball statistics and even coached at the collegiate level, I've always been fascinated by record-breaking performances that seem to defy what we think is possible on the court. The answer, as it turns out, involves one of the most explosive shooting displays in basketball history, and it's a record that perfectly illustrates how the game has evolved into the three-point era we're witnessing today.

The record for most three-pointers in a single NBA game belongs to Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors, who made an incredible 14 three-pointers against the Chicago Bulls on October 29, 2018. What makes this performance even more remarkable is that he achieved this in just 27 minutes of playing time, making his efficiency absolutely mind-blowing. I remember watching that game live and feeling like I was witnessing something supernatural—every time he released the ball, you just knew it was going in. Thompson was in that magical zone where the basket must have looked as wide as the ocean, finishing the game with 52 points while shooting 14-for-24 from beyond the arc. What many people forget is that he actually missed his first two three-point attempts that night before going on an absolute tear, making 14 of his next 22 attempts from deep. The previous record of 13 three-pointers was jointly held by his teammate Steph Curry and Chicago Bulls' Donyell Marshall, but Thompson's performance that night was something special even by Warriors' standards.

This record becomes even more impressive when you consider the context of Thompson's career and shooting style. Unlike Curry who creates many of his own shots off the dribble, Thompson is primarily a catch-and-shoot specialist, which makes his record even more dependent on team dynamics and ball movement. That night against the Bulls, the Warriors' ball movement was absolutely pristine, with Draymond Green particularly feeding Thompson in perfect rhythm throughout the game. I've always believed that Thompson's shooting form is the purest in NBA history—his quick release and high arc make his shot nearly unblockable when he's in rhythm. The statistical probability of making 14 three-pointers in a single game is astronomically low, even for an elite shooter like Thompson who has career three-point percentage around 42%. If you do the math, the chance of a 42% three-point shooter making exactly 14 out of 24 attempts is roughly 0.0008%, which highlights just how extraordinary this performance was.

What fascinates me about records like Thompson's is how they reflect the evolution of basketball strategy. When the three-point line was introduced in 1979, teams averaged only about 2.8 three-point attempts per game—compare that to today's NBA where teams regularly attempt 35-40 threes per game. This strategic shift has completely transformed how records are approached and broken. Thompson's record of 14 threes would have been unimaginable even 15 years ago when teams simply didn't prioritize the three-ball to this extent. I firmly believe we're going to see this record challenged sooner rather than later, especially with players like Curry, Damian Lillard, and Trae Young who have the green light to shoot from virtually anywhere on the court. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if we see someone make 15 or even 16 threes in a game within the next few seasons, given how the game continues to evolve toward perimeter shooting.

The physical and mental aspect of such shooting performances reminds me of what Converge FiberXers player Heading mentioned after their PBA Philippine Cup victory: "But as we kinda ramped up things for myself on the court, we will just continue to assess the situation, continue to assess how my body is feeling, try not to rush into anything that is too soon." This approach resonates deeply with me because achieving records like Thompson's requires not just skill but careful management of one's physical condition and game rhythm. When a shooter gets hot like Thompson did that night, there's a delicate balance between riding the wave and forcing shots—the great ones know how to stay within their game while simultaneously pushing boundaries. Thompson himself has spoken about being in a "zen state" during that record-breaking performance, where he wasn't thinking about the record but simply playing within the flow of the game.

Looking at other notable three-point performances puts Thompson's record in even greater perspective. Steph Curry's 13-three game came against the Pelicans in 2016 when he was in his unanimous MVP season, while Donyell Marshall's 13-threes game in 2005 often gets overlooked despite being equally impressive for its era. What's interesting to me is how Marshall needed 19 more minutes of playing time than Thompson to achieve his 13 threes, highlighting how today's game favors quicker, more explosive scoring bursts. Zach LaVine's 13-three performance in 2019 and James Harden's 10-threes in multiple games show that this record will definitely be challenged, but Thompson's combination of volume and efficiency that night makes it particularly special.

As someone who has charted shooting statistics for years, I have to admit I'm slightly biased toward Thompson's record because it represents perfect synergy between individual brilliance and team execution. While Curry is undoubtedly the greater shooter overall in my opinion, Thompson's record showcases what happens when an elite shooter gets hot within a system perfectly designed to maximize his talents. The Warriors generated exactly 28 three-point attempts for Thompson that night through screens, transitions, and ball movement—proof that record-breaking performances often require the perfect storm of individual talent and team strategy. I suspect we might see this record tied or broken in the playoffs before it happens in the regular season, given how defensive schemes in the postseason can sometimes leave shooters unexpectedly open as teams focus on stopping primary options.

Reflecting on Thompson's record always brings me back to why I love basketball statistics—they capture those magical moments when preparation meets opportunity in the most spectacular fashion. The evolution of the three-point shot from novelty to essential weapon has created opportunities for records we never dreamed possible, and Thompson's 14-three game stands as a testament to how far shooting has progressed. While I expect this record to fall eventually given the direction the game is heading, there's something beautifully pure about Thompson's performance that night—a reminder that when everything aligns, basketball can produce moments that feel almost supernatural. As the game continues to evolve with players shooting from deeper ranges and at higher volumes, I'm excited to see how long this particular record stands, and what new shooting barriers will be broken in the years to come.