{"id":635,"date":"2024-05-31T20:44:17","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T20:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/?p=635"},"modified":"2025-10-17T16:36:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T16:36:03","slug":"most-3-pointers-in-an-nba-playoff-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/2024\/05\/most-3-pointers-in-an-nba-playoff-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Most 3 Pointers in an NBA Playoff Game"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(last updated on October 17, 2025)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s NBA game attempt 15 treys or so a game. It\u2019s truly remarkable how the offensive mindset has shifted to three-point heaven. That trend has also become common in the playoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only 13 players in NBA history have made nine 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, \u201cHe\u2019s on fire!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Rex Chapman (9 three pointers – April 25, 1997)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\n\n
\n\t

\n\t\tRex Chapman<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n \n\n \n\n \n

\n \n Rex Everett Chapman<\/strong>\n <\/strong>\n \n \u25aa\n Twitter<\/a>:\n RexChapman<\/a>\n \n \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n(The Boy Wonder)\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n\n \n

\n \n Position:\n <\/strong>\n Shooting Guard and Point Guard\n\n\n \n \u25aa\n \n \n Shoots:\n <\/strong>\n Right\n<\/p>\n\n\n

6-4<\/span>, 185lb<\/span> (193cm, 83kg) <\/p>\n\n \n\n \n

\n Born: <\/strong>\n \n October 5<\/a>,\n 1967<\/a>\n <\/span> (Age: 56-205d)<\/span>\n \n in Bowling Green, Kentucky<\/a><\/span>\n us<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n \n\n \n\n

Relatives<\/strong>: Father Wayne Chapman<\/a> <\/p>\n \n

\n \n \n College:\n \n <\/strong>\n \n Kentucky<\/a>\n \n <\/p>\n\n\n \n

\n \n \n High School:\n \n <\/strong>\n \n Apollo in Owensboro, Kentucky<\/a>\n \n <\/p>\n\n\n \n\n \n

\n \n Draft:\n <\/strong>\n Charlotte Hornets<\/a>, 1st round (8th pick, 8th overall), 1988 NBA Draft<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n \n

\n NBA Debut: <\/strong>November 4, 1988<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n \n\n \n

\n \n Career Length:<\/strong> 12 years\n \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n