Breaking Down the NBA Record for Most Threes in a Game Ever Made
I still remember watching that 2016 Warriors-Thunder game like it was yesterday. Steph Curry was having what seemed like an ordinary night by his standards until the fourth quarter, when he decided to rewrite the record books. With 4:28 left on the clock, he dribbled past half-court, pulled up from 32 feet, and sank his 12th three-pointer of the night. The Oracle Arena crowd erupted in a way I've rarely witnessed - they knew they were watching history unfold. That shot broke the previous NBA record of 11 threes in a single game, a mark shared by Kobe Bryant, Donyell Marshall, and Curry himself.
What struck me most about that record-breaking performance wasn't just the number itself, but the context. Curry was coming off an MVP season and the Warriors were chasing their 73rd win. The pressure was immense, yet he made shooting from that distance look effortless. I've always believed that true greatness emerges when athletes face adversity, and Curry's record exemplifies this. He didn't just break the record - he shattered it with 13 threes, demonstrating a level of shooting proficiency that many thought was physically impossible. The previous record of 11 threes had stood for nearly seven years since Marshall set it in 2005, and before that, Kobe's 11 threes in 2003 seemed almost untouchable.
The evolution of this particular record fascinates me because it mirrors how the game itself has transformed. When Dennis Scott first set the single-game three-point record with 11 makes in 1996, it felt like watching someone climb Mount Everest. Now, in today's pace-and-space era, we've seen multiple players approach or match that number. Just last season, Donovan Mitchell dropped 13 threes against Chicago, joining Curry and Klay Thompson in the record books. Thompson's own 14-three-pointer game in 2018 against Chicago was particularly spectacular - he did it in just 27 minutes of play and attempted only 24 shots total. The efficiency there still boggles my mind.
What many casual fans might not realize is how much mental fortitude these record-breaking performances require. Carlos's quote about experiencing "complicated" misfortunes and needing to "stay the course amid personal frustrations" resonates deeply here. I've spoken with several NBA shooters who've described the psychological battle of a shooting slump, and conversely, the almost trance-like state of being in the zone during these historic outbursts. When Thompson scored his 14 threes, he was coming off a significant shooting slump earlier that season. The frustration he must have felt, then the discipline to stick with his routine - that's the untold story behind these spectacular numbers.
The physical demands are equally extraordinary. During Curry's record game, he covered approximately 2.8 miles of court distance according to NBA tracking data. The constant motion, the defensive attention, the physical fatigue - all while maintaining the precision required to shoot 13-17 from deep. That's a 76.5% conversion rate from beyond the arc, which is frankly absurd when you consider the degree of difficulty on many of those attempts. Several were contested, off-the-dribble threes that would make most coaches cringe, yet for Curry, they're high-percentage shots.
Looking at the current landscape, I'm convinced we'll see this record broken again within the next 2-3 seasons. The combination of increased volume, improved shooting mechanics, and defensive schemes that prioritize protecting the paint creates perfect conditions for another historic night. Players like Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, and Trae Young have both the green light and the capability to put up 15-plus threes in a game on any given night. Personally, I'd love to see Curry reclaim his record - there's something poetic about the greatest shooter in history owning the ultimate single-game shooting performance.
The strategic implications of these record-breaking performances extend beyond individual glory. Teams now actively scheme to create these explosive shooting nights through elevator doors, floppy actions, and stagger screens specifically designed to generate clean three-point looks. The analytics departments track shooter heat zones and fatigue patterns to optimize substitution patterns for maximum shooting efficiency. It's become a science as much as an art.
Reflecting on all these record-breaking performances, what stays with me isn't just the numbers but the stories behind them. The missed shots that preceded the hot streaks, the personal challenges these athletes overcame, and the moments of doubt they pushed through. That human element - the perseverance Carlos described - is what transforms statistical achievements into legendary performances. The next time we witness a player heating up from deep, remember that you're not just watching points accumulate; you're witnessing years of disciplined practice, mental resilience, and basketball evolution culminating in one spectacular performance. The record currently stands at 14, but something tells me we're just scratching the surface of what's possible from beyond the arc.
