It didn’t occur suddenly, however finally, a number of analytical minds realized one thing that was so staggering it modified the sport of basketball endlessly.
A 3 is value 50% greater than a 2. Consequently, the report for essentially the most 3-pointers made in an NBA sport was endlessly in jeopardy.
Now, the sport is drastically completely different than it was only a decade in the past.
This technology of NBA gamers all grew up studying shoot from distance and whereas the aesthetics of a sport with so many 3-point makes an attempt might be debated, there is no such thing as a denying how enjoyable it’s when a participant or group will get sizzling and hits a number of long-range photographs in a row.
So we’re highlighting the perfect 3-point capturing performances of all time by gamers and groups. And, not surprisingly, we begin with a Golden State Warrior.
Most 3-Pointers in a Recreation
14 – Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors (Oct. 29, 2018)
It’s the opposite half of the Splash Brothers that owns the single-game 3-point report, which is one thing Thompson most likely reminds Steph Curry of sometimes.
The superb factor about Thompson’s efficiency is that he may’ve made much more 3s if the Chicago Bulls would’ve stored the sport shut. However Thompson helped make it possible for wouldn’t occur, hitting an unimaginable 10 3s within the first half because the Warriors led 92-50 – at halftime.
Thompson hit one other 4 3-pointers within the second half to interrupt the report of 13 in a sport held by Curry. With the massive second-half lead, Thompson performed simply 27 minutes, that means he hit a 3 each two minutes he was on the courtroom. There’s a purpose he’s thought-about among the finest shooters of all time.
13 – Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (Nov. 7, 2016)
13 – Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls (Nov. 23, 2019)
13 – Damian Lillard, Portland Path Blazers (Feb. 26, 2023)
12 – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (Jan. 7, 2003)
12 – Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (Feb. 27, 2016/Feb. 27, 2025/April 1, 2025)
12 – Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors (Feb. 24, 2023/Feb. 6, 2023)
12 – Donyell Marshall, Toronto Raptors (March 13, 2005)
12 – Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings (Dec. 16, 2023)
Most 3-Pointers in a Playoff Recreation: Damian Lillard, 12 (June 1, 2021)
Lillard has constructed up a resume of nice playoff moments for the Portland Path Blazers, together with two series-winning buzzer-beaters. And his 12 3-pointers in a single sport stand alone atop the playoff report e-book, though it ended up being in a double-overtime loss that allowed the Denver Nuggets to go up 3-2 on the Blazers within the first spherical of the 2021 playoffs.
It’s unattainable to place the loss on Lillard, although. He additionally completed with 55 factors, which is tied for the fifth-most factors in a playoff sport. He scored 17 of his group’s 19 factors within the two time beyond regulation intervals and performed a game-high 51 minutes.
Klay Thompson has the second-most 3s in a playoff sport, and he did it in among the finest playoff comebacks ever. The 73-win Warriors famously misplaced within the NBA Finals, however the group got here dangerously near not making it there in any respect. Down 3-2 within the collection and 83-75 getting into the fourth quarter of Recreation 6, the Warriors wanted an enormous fourth quarter to maintain their season alive. And Thompson delivered.
He had already hit six of 12 3-point makes an attempt via three quarters, however he took it up a notch within the fourth, torching the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder for 19 factors on 6-of-9 capturing – together with 5 of 6 on 3s. The Warriors went on to win the sport 108-101 behind Thompson’s 41 factors and closed out the Thunder in Recreation 7 in a collection which will have shifted the steadiness of energy within the league in a monumental manner, as Kevin Durant joined the Warriors the next season.
Most 3s in a Recreation by a Rookie: Rodrigue Beaubois (March 27, 2010) and Yogi Ferrell (Feb. 3, 2017), 9
Most 3s in a Season: Stephen Curry (2015-16), 402
Most 3s in a Rookie Season: Keegan Murray (2022-23), 206
Most 3s in a Postseason: Stephen Curry (2014-15) and Klay Thompson (2015-16), 98
Most 3s in a Postseason by a Rookie: Tyler Herro (2019-20), 48
Most 3s With out a Miss: Ben Gordon (April 14, 2006/March 21, 2012) and Latrell Sprewell (Feb. 4, 2003), 9
Gordon was a guard earlier than his time. He would’ve been an ideal quantity scorer off the bench in immediately’s NBA. He may get sizzling in a rush and no stat is extra telling of that than the very fact there are three video games in NBA historical past by which a participant made 9 3-pointers and didn’t miss any – Gordon has two.
His first one was in 2006 for the Bulls towards the Washington Wizards, and Chicago wanted each one in all them to come back out on high. Gordon hit 4 of his 3-pointers within the fourth quarter and saved a very powerful one for final, as he hit a sport winner with 54 seconds left to place the Bulls up for good in a 103-101 win.
Gordon solely tied the report after Sprewell had achieved the feat earlier than him. Sprewell knocked down all 9 of his 3-point makes an attempt in 2003 towards the Los Angeles Clippers. He ended the day with 38 factors in a 105-92 win.
And whereas his Detroit Pistons tenure didn’t go fairly in addition to his Bulls one did, Gordon nonetheless had his moments. He duplicated his feat of 9 3-pointers and not using a miss en path to 45 factors in 2012. The Denver Nuggets acquired the final chuckle, although, as JaVale McGee dunked a missed free throw with 5 seconds left to carry the Nuggets to a 116-115 victory.
Most 3-Pointers in a Recreation by a Workforce: Milwaukee Bucks (Dec. 29, 2020) and Boston Celtics (Oct. 22, 2024), 29
It was the primary full week of the season and the Miami Warmth have been coming off an NBA Finals look by which the group stomped the Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 within the second spherical.
And when you can’t avenge a playoff collection in a single regular-season sport, the Bucks did as a lot as they may to point out they have been a brand new group. They hit an NBA-record 29 3-pointers in a 144-97 victory. 9 of the ten Bucks who performed hit no less than one 3-pointer, with Jrue Vacation main the best way with six 3-pointers made.
The one Bucks participant who didn’t hit a 3? That might be reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed his two makes an attempt and solely had seven factors on the sport. He was most likely OK with the 47-point victory and NBA report, although.
The Boston Celtics opened the 2024-25 season by elevating their 18th NBA championship banner from the prior spring, then rolled previous the New York Knicks 132-109. They most likely ought to have handed the Bucks for essentially the most 3-pointers in a sport, however wound up matching the report with 29.
At one level, the Celtics have been a exceptional 29 for 48 on 3s, however they proceeded to overlook their ultimate 13 makes an attempt from behind the arc. Jayson Tatum and Derrick White led the best way with eight and 6 3s, respectively, with the beginning 5 contributing no less than three every and 26 of the 29 general.
Most 3s in a Playoff Recreation by a Workforce: Cleveland Cavaliers (Could 4, 2016) and Milwaukee Bucks (April 19, 2023), 25
It’s arduous sufficient to protect LeBron James, nevertheless it’s close to unattainable when the group round him is hitting 3-pointers just like the Cavaliers did towards the Atlanta Hawks in Recreation 2 of the Japanese Convention semifinals in 2016. J.R. Smith led the best way by hitting seven of his 13 makes an attempt, and Kyrie Irving and James himself chipped in 4 3s apiece.
The Cavaliers led by 15 after one quarter and the sport was by no means shut after that. On the finish, the Cavaliers took a commanding 2-0 lead within the collection with a 123-98 win. The group would go on to win the championship, largely on account of their phenomenal exterior capturing.
The Bucks matched the report in Recreation 2 of their first-round collection with the eighth-seeded Miami Warmth in 2023. Pat Connaughton knocked down six 3s, Joe Ingles went 5 for six from past the arc and Jrue Vacation and Grayson Allen hit 4 apiece as Milwaukee made 25 of 49 from deep in a 138-122 victory.
Most 3s in a Season by a Workforce: Boston Celtics (2024-25), 1,370
In immediately’s age of the 3-pointer, the 2022-23 Warriors’ report of 1,363 3s in a season was by no means destined to final very lengthy. And of their 77th sport of the 2024-25 season, the Boston Celtics broke that mark by going 14 for 38 in a 123-103 win over the Phoenix Suns on April 4.
The Celtics might have the report, nevertheless it took them much more photographs to get there. By the tip of the evening on April 4, Boston had 3,717 makes an attempt from past the arc, whereas the 2022-23 Warriors completed with 3,540.
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