It happened in Chicago. October 29, 2018. Klay Thompson was struggling. Honestly, he was in a massive slump to start that season, shooting a miserable 13% from deep over the first seven games. Then, the switch flipped. By halftime against the Bulls, he had ten triples. Ten. Most players dream of hitting ten in a career game; Klay did it in 18 minutes. When he finally exited the court in the third quarter, he had splashed 14 shots from behind the arc. That night redefined what we think about record 3 pointers in a game because it wasn't just about volume. It was about a catch-and-shoot rhythm that felt like a glitch in the Matrix.
Basketball has changed. You know it, I know it. The mid-range jumper is basically a relic of the past, like floppy disks or landlines. If you aren't shooting from the logo, are you even trying?
How the 14-Triple Ceiling Became the Gold Standard
Before Klay went nuclear in the Windy City, his "Splash Brother" Stephen Curry held the crown. Steph hit 13 against the Pelicans in 2016. It felt unbeatable at the time. I remember watching that game and thinking nobody could possibly find that much space again. But the NBA's spacing has evolved so rapidly that the record for record 3 pointers in a game feels like it's constantly under siege by guys who haven't even entered the league yet.
Klay's 14 wasn't just luck. He didn't even dribble that much. In fact, on his record-breaking night, he had the ball in his hands for only 96 seconds total. Think about that. He scored 52 points and set an all-time NBA record while barely touching the leather. It’s the ultimate efficiency.
What's wild is that the college and international ranks sometimes make these numbers look small. Did you know Mohammad El-Akkani once hit 32 three-pointers in a single game in the Lebanese Basketball League? Sure, the defense wasn't exactly the 2004 Pistons, but 32 is 32. It’s a different world. In the NCAA, the record is held by Keith Veney, who notched 15 for Marshall back in 1996. That held up even through the JJ Redick and Stephen Curry college eras.
Why Nobody is Catching Klay (Yet)
You'd think with the way Dame Lillard or Luka Dončić play, someone would have hit 15 by now. Dame got close. He dropped 13 in a playoff game against Denver in 2021—which is arguably more impressive because it was the postseason. The pressure is different when your season is on the line.
One big reason the record 3 pointers in a game stays at 14 is the "blowout factor." Usually, if a guy hits 10 or 11 threes early, his team is winning by 30 points. Coaches pull their stars. Steve Kerr is famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) for sitting Steph or Klay when they are on the verge of history. Fans want the record; coaches want healthy knees for the playoffs.
Also, the scouting has caught up. If a player hits five triples in the first quarter, the opposing coach is going to box-and-one him or double-team him at half court. You have to be a special kind of off-ball mover to find 14 open looks in the modern NBA.
The Math Behind the Madness
Let's get nerdy for a second. To hit 14 threes, you usually need to take at least 20 to 24 attempts. That is a massive chunk of a team's offense. On Klay's big night, he took 24 shots from deep. That requires a specific team ecosystem where everyone is hunting for one guy. Draymond Green was basically a heat-seeking missile trying to find Klay on every possession.
It’s not just about skill. It’s about the green light. Most players, even great ones, get "shot-happy" and start forcing it once they hit seven or eight. The rim starts looking like a hula hoop. But the physics of a long-distance shot are volatile. One tiny centimeter of fatigue in the legs, and the ball clanks off the front rim.
The Evolution of the Line
The three-point line hasn't always been 23 feet, 9 inches (22 feet in the corners). In the mid-90s, the NBA actually shortened the line to try and boost scoring. It worked—maybe too well. Players like George McCloud saw their averages skyrocket. But those records often come with an asterisk in the minds of purists.
When we talk about the record 3 pointers in a game today, we’re talking about the deep ball. The "Curry Range."
The record is also being challenged from the bottom up. High school kids are shooting hundreds of threes a day. Look at Jack Gohlke in the 2024 NCAA tournament—the guy basically refused to take a two-point shot. That mentality is filtering into the pros. Eventually, we’re going to see a game where a team takes 70 threes. It’s inevitable. When that happens, Klay’s 14 might look like a footnote.
Not Just an NBA Story
While the NBA gets the headlines, the WNBA and international leagues have their own legends. In the WNBA, the record for most threes in a game is 9, shared by Kelsey Mitchell and Jewell Loyd. The WNBA game is often more about tactical execution than the "helio-centric" hero ball we see in the NBA, so these records are often harder to come by.
Then there’s the G-League. It’s the wild west of basketball. Players are trying to get noticed, and the best way to get noticed is to shoot the lights out. We’ve seen guys like Marial Shayok and Justin Mutts put up eye-popping numbers. It’s a laboratory for the future of the sport.
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The Psychological Barrier
There’s a weird thing that happens when a player hits 10 threes. The crowd senses it. The energy in the arena shifts. It becomes a hunt.
Honestly, it’s a bit like a no-hitter in baseball. You don't want to talk about it too much, but everyone knows what’s happening. I’ve seen Steph Curry get "too hot." He starts taking shots from 40 feet just because he can. That’s usually when the efficiency drops. To break the record 3 pointers in a game, you need a weird mix of absolute confidence and disciplined shot selection. You can't just chuck. You have to be surgical.
Looking Ahead: Who Breaks 14?
If I’m betting? It’s probably someone we don't expect. Not Steph—he’s too unselfish. Maybe Keegan Murray if he gets hot again (he hit 12 recently). Maybe a guy like Sam Hauser if he gets 40 minutes in a meaningless April game against a tanking team.
The most likely candidate is someone like Tyrese Haliburton or Trae Young, guys who have the ball constantly and can pull up from the logo. But they need the right opponent. You need a team that plays fast, doesn't play much defense, and keeps the game close enough that the star stays on the floor.
Actionable Takeaways for the Stat Obsessed
If you're following the quest for the next record 3 pointers in a game, keep your eyes on these specific scenarios:
- Watch the "Tanking" Season: Records often fall in late March or April. Bad teams play "ole" defense, and young stars are given the ultimate green light to showcase their skills.
- The Sacramento Kings Effect: Teams that play at a high pace (the "Seven Seconds or Less" style) provide more possessions. More possessions = more attempts.
- The Injury Factor: If a primary scorer is out, the second option often sees a 10-15% jump in usage. That’s when a role player suddenly transforms into Ray Allen for a night.
- Track Home Games: Shooting percentages are historically higher for role players at home. The depth perception and "rim familiarity" are real things in professional hoops.
The 14-three mark is a mountain. It’s been six years since Klay Thompson climbed it. Every night, someone lace up their shoes thinking they can get to 15. Most fail. But with the way the game is played now—the constant hunting for efficiency and the "mathematical superiority" of the triple—it’s only a matter of time before the nets in some arena just give up and stop trying to catch the ball.
Keep an eye on the box scores for the guys who hit four or five in the first quarter. That’s usually how the magic starts. It’s never a slow burn. It’s an explosion. And when it happens, the NBA world stops and watches. Because there is nothing quite like a shooter who literally cannot miss. It’s the purest form of the sport. Just you, the ball, and a hoop that looks ten feet wide.
To truly understand the impact of these records, you have to look at how teams are constructed now. Front offices aren't looking for the next Shaq. They are looking for the next guy who can stretch the floor. The record 3 pointers in a game isn't just a stat; it's a blueprint for the modern era. If you can't shoot, you can't play. It's that simple. We are living in the golden age of the marksman, and Klay’s 14 is the banner flying over the whole thing. For now.