When Klay Thompson checked out of the game against Chicago on October 29, 2018, he had a headband on and a look of pure relief. He’d just broken the record for the most 3s in NBA game history, knocking down 14 of them in a mere 27 minutes. Honestly, it was a weird night. The Bulls were a mess, the Warriors were hunting for Klay on every single possession, and the arena felt more like a practice gym than a professional stage.
It felt inevitable.
Klay's 14 triples eclipsed the previous mark of 13 set by his "Splash Brother" Stephen Curry. People always ask if it’ll be broken soon. You've seen the way the league is moving; guys are pulling up from the logo like it’s a layup. But even with the massive uptick in volume, that 14-mark has a strange staying power. It's not just about being a good shooter. You need a specific cocktail of a blowout, a hot hand, and a team willing to stop playing "winning" basketball just to feed one guy.
The Night 14 Became the Number to Beat
Let’s look at the box score from that Klay masterpiece. He went 14-of-24 from deep. That is a lot of shots. Most players don't even get 24 shots total in a game, let alone 24 heaves from beyond the arc. The craziest part? He did it in three quarters. Steve Kerr sat him for the fourth because the Warriors were up by about a billion.
If he’d played the fourth? He might have hit 18. Or 20.
But that's the thing about the most 3s in NBA game chase—coaches usually pull the stars when the lead gets out of hand. To break it, you sorta need the game to be close enough that the star stays in, but the defense to be bad enough that they keep giving up open looks. It's a paradox.
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The 13-Club: Curry, LaVine, and Lillard
Before Klay, Steph Curry held the crown with 13. He did that against New Orleans in 2016, right after a game where he’d actually snapped a 157-game streak of making at least one three. He was annoyed. When Steph is annoyed, the rim starts looking like a hula hoop.
Then you have Zach LaVine. Remember that game against Charlotte in 2019? He hit 13, including a wild, off-balance game-winner. That’s the rare "13-three game" that actually mattered for the outcome. Most of these record nights happen in blowouts.
Damian Lillard joined the 13-club in 2023 during a 71-point explosion against the Rockets. It was clinical. Dame was hitting from the literal center-court logo. When you talk about the most 3s in NBA game leaders, Lillard is often the one people think will eventually hit 15 because his range is basically "anywhere past the parking lot."
Why the Record Still Matters in 2026
The NBA has changed. Teams are now routinely taking 40 or 50 threes a night. Just last season, in late 2025, we saw Steph Curry drop 12 threes against the Blazers and another 12 against the Grizzlies. The frequency is up, but the ceiling isn't moving. Why?
Defense.
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Basically, as soon as a guy hits eight or nine, the opposing coach loses their mind. They start double-teaming him at half-court. They'd rather lose by 40 than let one guy hit 15 threes on their head. It’s a pride thing.
Team Records: When Everyone Gets Hot
It’s not just about the individuals. The team record for the most 3s in NBA game is currently shared at 29. The Milwaukee Bucks did it against Miami in 2020, and the Boston Celtics tied it on opening night in 2024 against the Knicks.
The Celtics' night was hilarious because they actually missed their last 13 attempts at the record-breaking 30th three. The crowd was chanting "one more three," and they just kept clanking them. It shows that even for the best shooting team in history, 30 is a psychological wall.
The Players Most Likely to Hit 15
If you’re betting on who finally moves the needle, you have to look at the volume guys.
- Stephen Curry: Obviously. He has more games with 10+ threes than anyone else by a landslide (over 25 of them).
- Anthony Edwards: He’s taking them at a clip we haven't seen from a young guard in a while.
- Keegan Murray: People forget he hit 12 in 2023. He’s a "microwave" shooter who doesn't need to dribble to get hot.
- Julian Champagnie: A bit of a dark horse, but he just put up 11 for the Spurs against the Knicks on New Year's Eve 2025.
The trend is clear: the most 3s in NBA game record isn't safe. The math says someone will eventually have a night where they go 15-of-22.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Record
Everyone assumes it’s about "range." It’s actually about "stamina" and "screen-setting."
Klay Thompson didn't break the record by dribbling through three guys. He broke it by running about four miles around off-ball screens. His teammates, Draymond Green and Kevin Durant, were actively passing up layups to find him. You need a team that loves you to get this record.
If you're a ball-stopper, you'll never hit 15. The defense will just collapse on you. You have to be a threat both on and off the ball.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you want to track when the record for the most 3s in NBA game might actually fall, keep an eye on these specific scenarios:
- Look for "Response Games": Like Curry in 2016, stars often hunt the record after a shooting slump. They come out aggressive.
- Monitor the Opponent: Teams with "drop" coverage (like certain iterations of the Bucks or Jazz) allow more clean looks from deep if the screen is solid.
- The "Feed the Hot Hand" Factor: Watch for games where a star hits 5 threes in the first quarter. In 2026, coaches are more likely than ever to let a guy keep shooting if the fans are into it.
The record stands at 14 for now, but with the way the game is played today, that number feels like a ticking time bomb. The next time a shooter starts 6-for-6 in the first twelve minutes, don't turn the channel. You might be watching history.
To stay ahead of the curve, check the nightly box scores for "3PA" (3-point attempts). Any time a player clears 18 attempts, they are in the danger zone for a record-breaking night. Tracking attempt volume is a better predictor of a breakout than just looking at the percentage.
Find a game with a high-pace over/under—usually involving teams like the Pacers or the Kings—and watch the first quarter closely. If the primary option hits three triples before the first timeout, set your alerts. History usually starts with a single "heat check."