Most 3 Pointers in an NBA Playoff Game (2024)

The NBA instituted the three-point shot in the 1979-1980 season. In the 45 years since then, the deep ball has evolved from a seldom used weapon to a true offensive philosophy. Just to give you an idea, in the early 80s many teams averaged below 10 three-point attempts per game. In the modern game, many teams average 30-40 three-point attempts per game. Heck, many players in today’s NBA game attempt 15 treys or so a game. It’s truly remarkable how the offensive mindset has shifted to three-point heaven. That trend has also become common in the playoffs.

Only ten players in NBA history have made 9 or more three pointers in an NBA Playoff game. A handful of these long-distance sharpshooters have done it more than once. If you look at the dates of these games, you will notice that the majority of these deep-ball barrages have come in the last decade by some very familiar marksmen. As NBA Jam used to say, “He’s on fire!”

Rex Chapman (9 three pointers – April 25, 1997)

Rex Chapman was a legend in Kentucky high school basketball before going on to play at UK. This Kentucky hero also drilled 9 threes in an NBA Playoff game on April 25, 1997 for the Phoenix Suns. In Game 1 of a Western Conference First Round series against the Seattle SuperSonics, Chapman dropped 42 on Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. That 42 included going 9 of 17 from downtown. At the time, this set the record for the most 3 pointers in an NBA Playoff game, and although it was tied many times, it wasn’t broken for 19 years. You will also notice this is the oldest performance on this list, which further demonstrates how the three-point shot has continuously evolved. Rex Chapman may not be a Hall of Famer, but he does have one of the most notable three-point shooting games in NBA Playoff history.

Vince Carter (9 three pointers – May 11, 2001)

Besides those highlight-reel in-game dunks and that electrifying display in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest, Vince Carter could also fill it up from deep. In an epic seven-game Eastern Conference semifinals series in 2001, Vinsanity hit 9 treys in a game to tie the NBA Playoff record at the time. For the Toronto Raptors in Game 3 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Carter put up 50 and went 9 for 13 from beyond the arc; that’s a scorching 69%. This was that climactic battle where this soon-to-be-inducted Hall of Famer and Allen Iverson were putting up alternating 50-point games. It ultimately came down to a missed jumper at the buzzer in Game 7 by Carter that let the Sixers advance. Vince Carter had a lot of memorable moments in his 22 seasons, and the night he tied the mark for most 3 pointers in an NBA Playoff game should be high on his list.

Ray Allen (9 three pointers – June 1, 2001 and April 30, 2009)

It’s only fitting that the man who was the former NBA leader in all-time career threes made an appearance on this list. Ray Allen, who now sits 2nd in all-time 3 pointers, twice nailed 9 threes in an NBA Playoff game. The first was as a Milwaukee Buck on June 1, 2001 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the 76ers (only weeks after Vince Carter did the same to them). Allen scored 41 points and was 9-13 from deep in a Bucks victory; they later lost in Game 7. Eight years later as a Boston Celtic, Ray deposited 51 points (9 for 18 from three) on the Chicago Bulls in a triple-overtime thriller that Boston lost 128-127; the Celtics eventually won this first round series in seven games. Ray-Ray’s 385 career threes in the playoffs are 5th all time. Ray Allen is indisputably one of the greatest three-point shooters in NBA history, and these two record-tying performances in the postseason validate that status.

Jason Terry (9 three pointers – May 8, 2011)

When you think about underrated players in NBA history, Jason Terry should be in that conversation. This perennial sixth man of the year was instant offense off the bench in the league for two decades. On May 8, 2011, in a Western Conference Semifinals clincher against the defending champion Lakers, Terry tied the NBA single-game playoff record with 9 threes. The Jet lit up Kobe and company for 32 points. There are two really important notes about this performance: one, this veteran came off the bench, and, two, he was 9 for 10 from the three-point line. That’s an NBA-Jam-he’s-on-fire show! About a month after this fireworks explosion, this Arizona product and the Dallas Mavericks won their first NBA title. Jason Terry got his championship in 2011, and he also tied the record for most 3 pointers in an NBA Playoff game.

Stephen Curry (9 three pointers – June 3, 2018 and May 14, 2019)

Stephen Curry is already an NBA legend even though he has some good years left. His shooting and style of play have changed the way the game is played. The Baby-Faced Assassin has been the pillar of the Golden State dynasty and is a globally known name. Steph is the NBA all-time leader in threes for the regular season (3,747) and the playoffs (618). With all of these accolades, you knew he had some big-time playoff shooting sprees. In Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals, Curry drained 9 threes en route to a sweep over LeBron and the Cavs. Then the next year in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, #30 splashed 9 treys again on the Portland Trail Blazers. We could talk about this man’s shooting exploits for days, but there is no doubt Stephen Curry has molded the modern game, and his three-point performances in the NBA Playoffs are among the best in history.

Jamal Murray (9 three pointers – August 23, 2020 and August 30, 2020)

Since the Denver Nuggets won the NBA title last year, it may be hard to call Jamal Murray an under-the-radar player any more, but this guy has been one of the deadliest scorers in the league the last few seasons. This guy also has two of the games with the most 3 pointers in NBA Playoff history. Both of these games with 9 deep balls came in the Pandemic Bubble. The first came on August 23, 2020, in a 129-127 shootout loss to the Utah Jazz. Murray hit for 50 and went 9 for 15 from deep. Then deja vu struck exactly a week later in the same series when Murray once again delivered 50 with 9 for 12 from behind the arc; only this time his Nuggets won 119-107. The Nuggets went on to win that first-round series in seven games. These performances may have been a preview of the Canadian sharpshooter’s championship pedigree. Jamal Murray is becoming an NBA standout, and his deep-ball explosions are some of the most impressive shooting displays in playoff history.

Donovan Mitchell (9 three pointers – August 30, 2020 and June 18, 2021)

Like the previous name mentioned, Donovan Mitchell has twice hit for 9 treys during an NBA Playoff game. Amazingly, one of those occasions was in the same game. In that aforementioned battle on August 30, 2020, Mitchell nailed 9 threes for the Utah Jazz in a loss to the Denver Nuggets in the Bubble. Then less than a year later on June 18, 2021, the Spider hit 9 threes again in another playoff loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. In those two games, Mitchell was a combined 18 for 28 from the three-point line. This dynamo from Louisville is a bonafide playoff performer. In the 2020 playoffs, he led the NBA with a 36.3 ppg average, and he then averaged 32.3 ppg in the 2021 postseason. Donovan Mitchell can really light it up, and he proved that with two of the most prolific three-point shooting games ever in the NBA Playoffs.

Bojan Bogdanovic (9 three pointers – June 16, 2021)

The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon continues because the next player on this list was a teammate of the previous player discussed. Bojan Bogdanovic, who played with Donovan Mitchell in Utah, also went off for 9 threes in that same series against the LA Clippers. On June 16, 2021, unfortunately in another losing effort, Bogdanovic drained 9 threes and had 32 points overall for the Jazz. Bogey may be the least heralded guy on this list, but he has put together a very solid NBA career for several teams. He has averaged 17 ppg or more five times, and he has had a 40% or higher three-point rate four times. This dude has delivered a 48-point game and a 44-point game. If you analyze the list of NBA players from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bojan would probably be considered the best they have ever produced. Bojan Bogdanovic has one of the games with the most 3 pointers in NBA history, and if you break down his bio, you shouldn’t be surprised by that.

Klay Thompson (11 three pointers – May 28, 2016; 9 three pointers – May 26, 2018)

If one member of the Splash Brothers made this list, then you know the other had to join him. Klay Thompson twice made 9 or more threes in an NBA Playoff game. How’s this for clutch timing? One instance happened to be Game 6 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals when his Golden State Warriors were down 3-2 to the Houston Rockets. With his team facing elimination, Game 6 Klay exploded for 35 points and was 9-14 from three-point range in a 115-86 Warriors win. How did he get that nickname? Two years prior in the 2016 WCF, with the Warriors down 3-2 facing a Game 6 at the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thompson went off for a then playoff record 11 treys and 41 points as the Warriors staved off elimination and eventually won Game 7. Klay’s 501 career playoff threes is second only to his Splash Brother Steph Curry. Besides these two dazzling displays, this downtown marksman also hit 8 threes in a playoff game on four separate occasions. Klay Thompson will go down as one of the greatest shooters ever, and putting up the second most threes in an NBA Playoff game is a testament to that.

Damian Lillard (12 three pointers – June 1, 2021; 10 three pointers – April 23, 2019; 9 three pointers – May 24, 2021)

Damian Lillard has the record for the most 3 pointers in an NBA Playoff game (12). Big Game Dame also has hit for 10 and 9 threes in other playoff games. On June 1, 2021, Lillard set the NBA Playoff mark when he drilled 12 deep balls and lit up the mountain air with 55 points. Unfortunately for Dame, his Portland Trail Blazers lost to the Denver Nuggets that night in a 147-140 double-overtime classic. Dame was a red hot 12 of 17 from beyond the arc as he logged almost 52 minutes a mile up in the sky. One of those 12 bombs was a fadeaway to force that second OT. This guard from Weber State can also make the rare claim of nailing two walk-off threes that closed out a playoff series. The first was in 2014 when he hit a long ball with the Blazers down 98-96 to the Houston Rockets. Then in 2019 he did the same thing to the Oklahoma City Thunder. It is certainly Dame Time in the playoffs. Damian Lillard is one of the most clutch players in league history, and that’s why he holds the record for the most threes in an NBA Playoff game.

Join our Sports Reference Community

Of Statheads:

Subscribe to Stathead, the most powerful research tools in sports, and find any player, team, season, game, and any play. With over 80 different search tools for baseball, basketball, football, and hockey, you’ve got infinite answers at your finger tips.

With Our Email Newsletters:

Sign up for our newsletter and get curated stats, recaps, and more from the Basketball Reference to your inbox every morning. No commitment, unsubscribe at any time.

On Social Media:

Stay connected with Basketball Reference on social media! Bringing you stats, trivia, and more on all our channels daily.

Twitter – Instagram – Facebook – TikTok – YouTube – Reddit – LinkedIn

Follow the rest of the Sports Reference sites on social here.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 31st, 2024 at 8:44 pmand is filed under Top 10 Lists.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.Both comments and pings are currently closed.