Can You Identify the NBA Players Who Hold These Single-Game Records?

SPORTS

Gavin Thagard

6 Min Quiz

Image: Pexels

About This Quiz

It's Jan. 22, 2006, and the Los Angeles Lakers are going up against the Toronto Raptors. You turn on the game in the middle of the fourth quarter and hear the announcer say Kobe Bryant has scored over 70 points. Can he do it? Can the "Black Mamba" break the single-game scoring record? Who even holds the record? Do you know? Find out with this quiz!

There's something special about watching a player go for a record in an NBA game, especially when it's unexpected. Unlike in an NBA season, all of the action happens so quickly, within 48 minutes in fact, so fans don't have to wait weeks or months to see if the record will stand or pass on to a new player as events play out. It's thrilling and is what makes sports so compelling to watch. 

How well do you know the players throughout NBA history who sit at the top of these single-game record books? Some of these players were stars in the league, while others hold records that they'd rather get rid of. See if you know who they are!

If you're ready for a challenge, get started and try to have a record-setting performance on this quiz by getting a perfect score!

In a game that went into five overtimes, who holds the single-game record for minutes?

A sniper from the outside, Dale Ellis shot 40% from three-point range during his career. He even entered and won the Three-Point Contest in 1989.

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Scoring 37 points in the third quarter, which player has the record for most points in a quarter of a game?

Klay Thompson is the son of Mychal Thompson. Mychal is a former NBA player himself who won two titles with the Lakers in the '80s.

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Which player proved to be unstoppable when he scored a record 100 points in a game?

Despite being an all-world athlete, Wilt Chamberlain had a history of heart trouble throughout his life. He died from heart failure in 1999 at the age of 63.

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While playing for the Wizards, this player set an overtime record in the regular season by scoring 16 points. Who is he?

In 1951, the Indianapolis Olympians and the Rochester Royals played the longest game in NBA history, which lasted 78 minutes. The game required six overtimes for a winner to be announced.

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Eventually tied by two other players, which NBA defensive standout originally set the single-game record for blocks in a quarter?

Manute Bol never averaged more than four points throughout his NBA career. When he retired, Bol had blocked more shots than he scored points.

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A one-time NBA MVP, who set the single-game record for points while also earning a triple-double?

James Harden led the Houston Rockets to Game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals against a loaded Golden State Warriors' team. The Rockets lost Game 7 after going 7 of 44 from three-point range.

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Which of these players was the quickest to reach a triple-double, which he did in less than 15 minutes?

Nikola Jokic was part of a Nuggets' team in 2017-18 that came up one game short of making the playoffs. In the season finale​, the Nuggets lost to the Timberwolves, who were also playing for a playoff spot.

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A record he would rather get rid of, who set the single-game record for missed field goals?

Joe Fulks spent his entire NBA career with the Philadelphia Warriors, where he played from 1946 until 1954. At his height, Fulks averaged 26 points per game.

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Accomplished in 1978, who originally set the record for most field goals made in a quarter?

David Thompson's highest-scoring game came in 1978 when he scored 73 points against the Detroit Pistons. Only five other players have scored over 70 points in a game.

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In a horrible outing, which player set a record by shooting 17 field goals in a game without making one?

Tim Hardaway attended UTEP while he played college basketball. There, he developed a crossover that became known as the "UTEP Two-step."

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Which of these players tied the turnover record for a game in 2000?

Jason Kidd finished his career second on the list of all-time assists. In his 19 seasons in the NBA, Kidd racked up 12,091 assists.

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Swatting away 17 balls, who holds the NBA record for blocks in a single game?

Elmore Smith came into the league in 1971 ready to dominate the competition. Earning NBA All-Rookie First Team, Smith averaged over 17 points and 15 rebounds per game in his rookie season.

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Who was the first player to get an NBA record eight steals in a half?

Quinn Buckner was a champion on multiple levels throughout his basketball career. He won championships in high school, college, the NBA, and even won Olympic Gold in 1976.

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A member of the "Splash Brothers," who holds the single-game record for three-pointers made?

Klay Thompson helped the Golden State Warriors win an NBA championship in 2015. The team lost in the Finals the next seasons to the Cavaliers after taking a 3-1 lead in the series.

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Which player went 5 for 21 from three-point range, missing a record 16 three-pointers​?

Damon Stoudamire played in the league at only 5 ft 10 in. Despite his short stature, Stoudamire had a successful career and was even named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1996.

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Which of these defensive specialists recorded a record 11 steals in a game?

Kendall Gill led the league in steals in 1999. That season, Gill averaged 2.7 steals per game for the New Jersey Nets.

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A former Celtics' legend, who set an NBA record of 19 assists in a half?

Bob Cousy won six NBA titles playing for the Boston Celtics. For his accomplishments, the Celtics retired Cousy's number 14.

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This player twice set the record for three-pointers made in a game with no misses. Who is he?

Ben Gordon averaged 40% from three-point range throughout his NBA career. At his height, Gordon also averaged over 21 points per game.

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Who set an NBA record by hitting 10 consecutive three-pointers to start a game?

Ty Lawson won an NCAA championship in 2009 playing for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Lawson was coached by Roy Williams, the long-time Tar Heels coach.

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Playing the center position, which of these players shot 12 three-point shots in a game without making a single one?

Standing 7 ft tall, Brook Lopez entered the league in 2008. He played at Stanford in college alongside his brother Robin Lopez, who also declared for the 2008 NBA draft.

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In 2009, this player tied the record of 14 assists in a quarter. Who is he?

Steve Blake played point guard for 13 seasons in the NBA. A journeyman, Blake played for eight different teams throughout his NBA career.

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While playing for the Denver Nuggets, this player stole eight balls in a quarter. Who is he?

Fat Lever had 43 triple-doubles in the regular season throughout his NBA career. That puts him at eighth on the list of all-time triple-doubles.

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The NBA's most improved player in 1991, who set the single-game record for assists?

Scott Skiles went into coaching after he left the NBA in 1996. Skiles has served as the head coach for such franchises as Chicago, Phoenix and Orlando.

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Going 10 for 11, who set the single-game record for three-pointers made in a half in 2014?

After some stellar seasons in the NBA, Chandler Parsons' career has been hampered by injuries. Those injuries have certainly been a reason that the small forward has played for three different teams.

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A record originally set by Wilt Chamberlain, who tied the single-game record for free throws made during a regular season game?

Adrian Dantley was the NBA scoring champion in 1981 and 1984. Both seasons, he averaged over 30 points per game.

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Which former star made 23 straight free throws in a game without missing one?

Known for his dunking ability, Dominique Wilkins was called "The Human Highlight Reel." He was named the NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner twice, in 1985 and 1990.

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A giant among men, who grabbed 55 rebounds in a single game?

Wilt Chamberlain wore number 13 throughout his college and NBA career. His number was retired by the University of Kansas, the Warriors, the 76ers and the Lakers.

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A three-time NBA MVP, which player holds the single-game record for offensive rebounds in a game?

Moses Malone won a single NBA title in 1983 while playing for the 76ers. Moses was a star on the team that also featured Julius Erving, better known as "Dr. J."

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Known as the "Round Mound of Rebound," who holds the single-game record for offensive rebounds in a half?

Charles Barkley was drafted out of Auburn with the fifth pick in the 1984 NBA draft. Other star players in the draft included Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan.

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In 2016, this player set a record by making 24 consecutive free throws in a game. Who is he?

In 2018, DeMar DeRozan was traded from the Raptors to the Spurs for Kawhi Leonard. The move was a surprise for many in Toronto, who saw DeRozan as the franchise player.

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This player isn't proud to have the record for most free throws in a game without making one. Who is he?

NBA coaches developed a strategy to foul Shaquille O'Neal instead of allowing him to get the basketball in the post. The strategy became known as "Hack-a-Shaq."

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This player shot a record 39 free throws in a game twice during his career. Who is he?

While playing for U.S. basketball, Dwight Howard won a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics. He was part of a team that defeated Spain in the finals.

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An 11-time NBA champion, who holds the record for most rebounds in a half?

Bill Russell served as a player-coach​ his last few seasons in the NBA. With his hiring, he became the first African American coach in the NBA.

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The NBA's all-time leading scorer also set the single-game record for defensive rebounds in a game. Who is he?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA MVPs over the course of his NBA career. That's one more than the next closest players, Michael Jordan and Bill Russell, who both have five.

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As a rookie, this player took a record 24 free throws in a quarter. Who is he?

Ben Simmons won the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2018. He beat out Donovan Mitchell who many thought should have won.

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During the 1965 regular season, this player had 18 rebounds in a quarter. Who is he?

Nate Thurmond played in seven NBA All-Star Games throughout his 14-year career. He was named to the NBA Hall of Fame in 1985.

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This player missed a record 23 free throws after taking 36 in a game. Who is he?

Andre Drummond led the NBA in rebounding twice in his career. Over the course of the 2017-18 season, Drummond averaged 16 rebounds per game.

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A two-time NBA champion as a coach, who is tied for the single-game record for offensive rebounds in a quarter?

Larry Smith never won an NBA title as a player during his 13-year career. However, he did win two titles as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995. That team was led by Hakeem Olajuwon.

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An NBA forward during the '60s and '70s, which player holds the record for defensive rebounds in a quarter?

Happy Hairston helped the Los Angeles Lakers win an NBA championship in 1972. That Lakers' team won an NBA record 33 games in a row.

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