Top 5 NBA players with most free-throws made in a game without missing featuring James Harden, Jimmy Butler, and more
Jimmy Butler tied Dominique Wilkins for the NBA's second-most free-throws made in a game without missing from the charity stripe yesterday. He made the 23rd free-throw to take home a 112-111 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Miami Heat also set an all-time NBA record for most free-throws made without missing, making 40/40 in the game.
Had Butler made one more free-throw, however, he would've tied none other than James Harden for the NBA's all-time record for free-throws made in a game without missing.
In fact, Harden finds himself twice on the list of top five NBA players with the most free-throws made without missing. It is a list that is notably filled with players from the last decade, seeing as fouls are much easier to draw in today's game than they were before.
We will now take a look at the aforementioned list, which contains just four (out of 14) games from the previous millennia.
#5. 19 made free-throws - Kawhi Leonard, Bob Petit, James Harden, and more
Tied for the fifth spot are six games, two of them by Harden in 2017 and 2018, one by Kawhi Leonard in 2019, one by Adrian Dantley in 1987, one by Bill Cartwright in 1981 and one by Bob Petit in 1961, which is also the oldest game on this list.
While most of these run-of-the-mill regular-season games, Bob Petit's 19 free-throws made came prior to the NBA-ABA merger in a 43-point, 16-rebound performance against the Boston Celtics, who beat the Hawks 141-121.
#4. 20 made free-throws - Kobe Bryant, Amar'e Stoudemire and Richard Hamilton
Tied for the fourth-spot on the list are Kobe Bryant, Amar'e Stoudemire and Richard Hamilton.
Kobe Bryant shot 20-for-20 from the charity stripe in a 61-point game against the New York Knicks in 2009. This was Kobe's third-highest scoring performance in his career. Amar'e Stoudemire scored 38 points for his 20-for-20 performance in 2008 and Richard Hamilton scored 30 points.
#3. 21 made free-throws - Kevin Durant and Deron Williams
Kevin Durant and Deron Williams are tied for third-spot, with both of them putting up 50-plus points in their respective games. Durant shot 21-for-21 from the free-throw line, scoring 52 points against the Dallas Mavericks in 2013. This was his third-highest scoring performance of his career.
Deron Williams' 21 free-throws came in a 57-point performance against the Charlotte Bobcats in 2012. This was Williams' highest-scoring performance of his career.
#2. 23-made free throws - Dominique Wilkins and Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler's performance yesterday tied Dominique Wilkins for the second-most free-throws made without missing. Butler's 35 came off of 23 made free-throws (career-high) and 6-for-17 shooting.
Dominique Wilkins' 23 free-throws came in 1992 against the Chicago Bulls, in a 42-point performance on a night when he shot just 9-for-22 from the field. Wilkins' 1992 performance is the fourth and final entry of a game before 2000 on this list.
#1. NBA record 24-made free throws - James Harden
Harden's run in the second-half of 2010s included a league MVP, with consecutive seasons averaging 30-plus points per game, stepbacks and leading the league in free-throw attempts.
Harden's penchant for drawing fouls has seen him become a divisive player who scores a significant amount of his points on the charity stripe.
It is therefore no surprise that the leader on this list is James Harden. Harden's 24 free-throws came in a 50-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs in 2019.