BOSTON — The TD Garden crowd had seen something special before. Two seasons ago, in the 2024-25 opener against the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics rained 29 three-pointers on their unsuspecting opponent, tying an NBA record that had stood for years. On Friday night, they did it again.
The Celtics buried 29 threes against the New Orleans Pelicans, matching the league record for most 3-point makes in a single game for the second time in two seasons. They connected on 17 triples in the first half alone, added eight more in the third quarter, and finished 29-of-59 from behind the arc in a 144-118 demolition.
Boston now shares the record with the Milwaukee Bucks (2020) and the Memphis Grizzlies (earlier this month). It’s a testament to the modern NBA, where the three-point shot has evolved from a novelty to a necessity.
But for one Celtic, the night was about more than just a shared record. It was about a streak—one that has defined his entire basketball life.
Hauser’s Heater: Eight Threes and a Shot at History
Sam Hauser has never been a player who needs the spotlight. He doesn’t demand the ball. He doesn’t create off the dribble. He finds his spots, catches, and shoots. And on Friday night, he couldn’t miss.
Hauser sank three of his five 3-point attempts in the first half, then caught fire in the third quarter, drilling five more on seven attempts. He finished with 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 8-of-12 from downtown. If not for Boston’s massive lead—they were up 116-82 after three quarters—Hauser might have recorded his third career game with 10 made threes. Instead, he sat out the entire fourth quarter, watching from the bench as his teammates dribbled out the clock.
But the bigger story is what Hauser is chasing—and what he might lose.
The Streak: A Lifetime of 40 Percent
Hauser has shot at least 40 percent from three-point range in every season of his NBA, college, and G League career. He recently said he believes the streak started during his freshman year of high school. That’s over a decade of sustained excellence from behind the arc.
“It was bound to happen eventually,” Hauser said Thursday when asked about the possible end to the streak. “Every good thing comes to an end.”
He said it with the calm acceptance of someone who has already made peace with the possibility. But the competitor in him must want to keep it alive.
Entering Friday’s game, Hauser was shooting 38.9 percent from three. After his 8-of-12 performance, he climbed to 39.3 percent. With one game left in the regular season—Sunday against the Orlando Magic—he has a slim chance to reach the 40-percent mark.
Here’s the math: Hauser will need to make his first six three-point attempts against the Magic to finish the season at exactly 40.0 percent. If he makes five of six, he’ll finish at 39.9 percent—a rounding error, but still below the threshold. If he misses even one of his first six, the streak is almost certainly over.
It’s a long shot. But after Friday night, Hauser has proven that he is capable of anything.
The Record: 29 Threes, Twice in Two Seasons
The Celtics’ 29 threes against New Orleans were a team effort. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 10 of them. Payton Pritchard added four. Even center Neemias Queta got in on the action, sinking a three from the top of the key four minutes into the third quarter—the first 3-point make of his career.
But the Celtics had chances to break the record. On the possession after Hugo González hit the team’s 29th three with 1:20 left, center Luka Garza disappointed some of the home fans by dunking instead of aiming for the record. After Baylor Scheierman missed a transition three that would have broken the tie, the Celtics then dribbled out the shot clock on their final possession, giving up their last opportunity to stand alone in the record book.
It was a curious decision. Why not go for the record? Why not make history? But the Celtics have bigger goals. They clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with the win, and their focus is on the playoffs, not on regular-season milestones.
Still, the image of the Celtics dribbling out the clock rather than launching another three will linger. It’s a reminder that this team is measured by championships, not by shooting displays in April.
The Bigger Picture: What’s at Stake for Hauser
For Hauser, Sunday’s game against the Magic is about more than a meaningless regular-season finale. It’s about a streak that has defined his career. A streak that separates him from the league’s other shooters. A streak that says: year after year, in any system, with any teammates, Sam Hauser is a 40-percent shooter from three.
If he loses it, he loses a talking point. He loses a badge of honor. But he doesn’t lose his value as a player. Hauser is still one of the best shooters in the league, and his ability to space the floor will be critical in the playoffs.
“Every good thing comes to an end,” he said. And maybe that’s true. But he’s not ready to let it end without a fight.
The Verdict: A Long Shot Worth Watching
The Celtics tied an NBA record on Friday night. They matched the 29 threes they hit against the Knicks in the 2024-25 opener. They added their names to a list that includes the Bucks and the Grizzlies.
But the most compelling storyline of the night was Sam Hauser, a role player who has quietly built one of the most impressive shooting streaks in basketball history.
He needs six straight threes on Sunday to keep it alive. The odds are against him. But if anyone can do it, it’s Hauser.
And if he does, it will be the perfect ending to a regular season that has been anything but ordinary for the Celtics’ sharpshooter.