10 NBA Players With Most 3 Pointers In A Game: Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard and More

The 3-point shooting in the NBA has evolved over time and has changed the equations in the league. At first, the league players were focused on dominating under the paint, while the 3 point shooting was just a bonus. However, over the years, the yearning for a high-scoring streak compelled the players to go for more volume of 3-pointers.

The league-wide 3-point rate (the percentage of all field goal attempts that have come from beyond the arc) has increased in each of the last 10 seasons, as per the NBA report of 2022. It was 22.2% in 2010-11, which surged to 39.2% in the 2020-21 season. Even Adam Silver addressed this on December 16, 2024, as the reigning champions were scoring 51.1 3-point attempts per game. In this evolving 3 point world, we will explore players who have excelled the parameter shooting and mark the top 10 NBA players with the most 3 pointers in a game.

Most 3 Points in a Game NBA

We have curated a list of the most deadly three-point shooters who have scored the most 3 pointers in a single game. It includes some double-timers who surpassed themselves in the game of beyond-the-curve shooting several times:

10. Robert Covington – 11 3-Pointers (43 Points)

On April 1, 2022, Robert Covington scored a career-high 43 points for the Los Angeles Clippers in a 153-119 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. In this matchup, Covington scored 33 points of his total 43 points from the three point line. He made 11 of 18 three-pointers, which is a franchise record for the Clippers. It was not just on the scoring end where Covington dominated, but he also grabbed 8 rebounds along with 2 assists and 3 blocks. The 11 three pointer flushing was also a franchise record for the Clippers by Robert Covington.

9. CJ McCollum – 11 3-Pointers (42 Points)

CJ McCollum had set a team-best record for the New Orleans Pelicans by flushing 11 3 pointers into the bucket. Overall, he tallied 42 points, along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists. He had scored 33 points from three-point scoring on 16 3 point attempts with 68.8% shooting accuracy. This game took place on December 30, 2022, in which the Pelicans crumbled the Philadelphia 76ers, putting up 127-116 on the scoreboard.

8. Donte DiVincenzo – 11 3-Pointers (40 Points)

It was a historic night on March 25, 2024, for Donte DiVincenzo as he set the franchise record for the most 3-pointers in a single game. He scored on 11 3 pointers along with 5 rebounds and 2 assists against the Detroit Pistons. Even his shooting accuracy was 55% on 20 attempts that he made that night. Ultimately, the team that he was representing, the New York Knicks, conquered the Pistons by a massive 25-point margin(124-99).

He took seven 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, after the game was already won. It was a matter of the bigger lead at that point.

7. Donyell Marshall – 12 3-Pointers (38 Points)

During 28 minutes of playing time on the court, Donyell Marshall had scored 12 3 pointers totalling 38 points. Marshall scored it while playing for the Toronto Raptors on March 13, 2005 against the Philadelphia 76ers. On the defensive end, Donyell was spectacular as he grabbed 10 rebounds and 3 assists in that game.

Marshall’s three-point accuracy was better than average, as he made 19 three-point attempts while maintaining 63.2% shooting accuracy. The Raptors clinched the victory by scoring 128 points, while the Phillies could only muster up 110 points by the end of the game.

6. Kobe Bryant – 12 3-Pointers (45 Points)

While playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Black Mamba unleashed himself on the Seattle SuperSonics on January 7, 2003. Along with 12 3 pointers, Bryant also tallied 3 rebounds and 3 assists in that game. Overall, Kobe Bryant tallied 45 points in total while attempting 18 three pointers.

The Black Mamba maintained 66.7% shooting accuracy during that game and clinched the game from the Lakers for a 119-98 scorecard by the end of the game.

5. Keegan Murray – 12 3-Pointers (47 Points)

On December 16, 2023, Keegan Murray brightened the performance of the Sacramento Kings, putting up 12 3 pointers in a game. That’s why he stands fifth on the most 3 pointers in a single game. He had spent 36 minutes on the floor and dished out 47 points, crumbling the spirits of the Utah Jazz.

Murray also grabbed eight rebounds while attempting 15 3 pointers. It was much better than Stephen Curry’s 2016 performance, where Keegan maintained beyond the curve shooting accuracy of 80%. The Kings had scored 125 points against Utah’s 104-point haul.

4. Stephen Curry – 13 3-Pointers (46 Points)

With 13 3 pointers in a single game, Stephen Curry stands third on the list of most 3 pointers in a single game. It was a Golden State Warriors vs the New Orleans Pelicans where the baby-faced assassin scored 46 points while also grabbing six rebounds on November 7, 2016. The accuracy of his three point shooting was like a freak as he attempted 17 three pointers with a 76.5 perimeter shooting percentage.

3. Zach LaVine – 13 3-Pointers (49 Points)

Zach set this record on November 23, 2019, in a close encounter with the Charlotte Hornets with a scorecard of 116-115. LaVine put up the spectacular for the audience of 13 3 pointers while playing for the Chicago Bulls. LaVine has just 35 minutes of playing time in which he also got 4 rebounds and attempted 17 3-pointers. Surprisingly, Zach’s accuracy was out of the world, with 76.5% beyond the curve shooting percentage.

2. Damian Lillard – 13 3-Pointers (71 Points)

The Big Dame shocked the NBA world with his performance while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers on February 26, 2023. The match was against the Houston Rockets. During the 39 minutes of playing time on the court, it was a masterpiece for the NBA three point shooters, where Damian, in total, scored 71 points.

Dame achieved the feat in just 22 attempts. The accuracy of the three-pointers in a game was even better than Klay Thompson’s most 3 pointers in a single-game record. His 3 point shooting accuracy that night was 59.1%. The Trail Blazers won the game, racking up 131-114 on the scoreboard.

1. Klay Thompson – 14 3-Pointers (52 Points)

This performance from Klay Thompson came on October 29, 2018 while playing for the Golden State Warriors as a guard against the Chicago Bulls. It was a win for the Warriors since they put up 149-124 on the scoreboard, to which Klay contributed 52 points. Before, Klay the record was under the name of Stephen Curry. However, Thompson surpassed his Splash brother in the single-game record.

Most 3 Pointers In NBA History

This volume of scoring from the players has also created anxiety among the league owners. Over the years, the league has even evolved the parameters of the 3 point line. Currently, it is 23 feet, 9 inches above the key, and 22 feet in the corners. Yet the players devise a way to contest 3 pointers in abundance. It might evolve in the upcoming years as well and we will come up with another list of NBA players who make it big in terms of 3-point scoring in the league.

Here is a tabular breakdown of the players with the most 3 pointers in a game, according to the data from the above-mentioned players: