During the game against the Washington Wizards on March 17, Sam Hauser of the Boston Celtics was on the verge of tying the team’s record for most 3-pointers made in a game. Despite having almost an entire half left to play, his night took a turn when he sustained an ankle injury after his final shot midway through the third quarter.
Hauser’s teammates had been actively seeking to assist him in breaking both the franchise and NBA records, as he was in a remarkable shooting rhythm, going 10-for-13 from beyond the arc. The previous record of 11 3-pointers in a Celtics game was set by Marcus Smart, an unexpected source, in January 2020 against the Phoenix Suns.
Hauser’s performance against the Wizards seemed to indicate that Smart’s record was about to be surpassed, as he had already connected on seven 3-pointers in the first half and added three more in the third quarter before his injury.
Al Horford, a center for the Celtics, expressed admiration for Hauser’s performance and hoped that he could have broken both the team and league records. Despite Hauser’s absence in the remainder of the game, his teammates continued to recognize his hot hand and actively sought to involve him in the offense.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla commended Hauser’s confidence and his teammates’ recognition of his shooting prowess, emphasizing their collective execution within the flow of the game. However, Hauser’s ankle injury has sidelined him for the upcoming game against the Pistons, as indicated in the injury report.