List_of_National_Basketball_Association_single-game_playoff_scoring_leaders

List of NBA single-game playoff scoring leaders

List of NBA single-game playoff scoring leaders

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This is a complete listing of National Basketball Association players who have scored 50 or more points in a playoff game. This feat has only been accomplished 50 times in NBA playoff history by 33 players. Only eight players have scored 50 or more points on more than one occasion: Michael Jordan (eight times), Wilt Chamberlain (four times), Allen Iverson (three times), Jerry West (twice), Donovan Mitchell (twice), Jamal Murray (twice), Damian Lillard (twice), and Jayson Tatum (twice). Rick Barry scored the last two of his three 50+ point playoff games in the American Basketball Association (ABA).

Out of those 50 times, a player has earned himself a double-double (having double digits in two statistical categories) only 18 times; points and rebounds achieved 14 times, and points and assists the remaining 4 times. This feat has been achieved by 16 different players. In order of most points scored, these include Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain (4 times), Charles Barkley, Rick Barry, Damian Lillard, Jerry West, Nikola Jokić, Eric "Sleepy" Floyd, Jayson Tatum, Bob Pettit, Billy Cunningham, Bob McAdoo, Karl Malone, Dirk Nowitzki, Jamal Murray, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Out of those 32 players, only 6 players have accomplished this feat while being born out of the United States: Dominique Wilkins (France), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Jamal Murray (Canada), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Nikola Jokić (Serbia), and Joel Embiid (Cameroon).

The only player to record a 50+ point triple-double in a playoff game is Russell Westbrook, who dropped 51 points while grabbing 10 rebounds and dealing out 13 assists. The only players to score 50 or more points in a playoff game seven are Stephen Curry, who dropped 50 points against the Sacramento Kings on April 30, 2023, and Jayson Tatum, who dropped 51 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on May 14, 2023. Only two players scored 50 or more points in the same game. Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz and Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets scored 51 and 50 points, respectively, on August 23, 2020. On August 30, 2020, Murray scored 50 points against the Denver Nuggets, joining Mitchell as the first pair of players in NBA playoff history to record multiple 50-point games in the same series. Only four players have scored 50 or more points more than once in the same series: Michael Jordan (vs. Cleveland, 1988), Allen Iverson (vs. Toronto, 2001), Donovan Mitchell (vs. Denver, 2020), and Jamal Murray (vs. Utah, 2020). Jordan has five of the ten highest-scoring playoff games in NBA history

Key

^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[lower-alpha 1]
§ 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2024[1]
Player's team lost the game
Double-double
Triple-double
Stat either not recorded or couldn't be found
MPMinutes playedFGMField goals madeFGAField goal attempts
FG%Field goal percentage3PM3-point field goals made3PA3-point field goal attempts
3P%3-point field goal percentageFTMFree throws madeFTAFree throw attempts
FT%Free throw percentageTRBRebound (basketball)ASTAssist (basketball)

Single-game leaders

More information Rank, Points ...

See also

Notes

  1. A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.
  2. Double overtime. Jordan scored 17 points in the first quarter, 6 points in the second quarter, 13 points in the third quarter, 18 points in the fourth quarter, 5 points in the first overtime and 4 points in the second overtime.
  3. NBA Finals single-game record. Most points in a playoff regulation game. 25 field goal attempts in the first half, tying the record. Baylor scored 18 points in the first quarter, 15 points in the second quarter, 13 points in the third quarter and 15 points in the fourth quarter.
  4. Set playoff records for field goal attempts in a game (48) and in a half (25).
  5. Miami took an 18-point lead before Jordan scored his first points. Jordan scored 54 points in the final three-quarters, setting a playoff record for most points in three-quarters; he scored 2 points in the first quarter, 17 points in the second quarter, 19 points in the third quarter and 18 points in the fourth quarter.
  6. Barkley's first quarter line: 11–11 fg, 3–3 3pt, 2–2 ft. 15 field goals made in the first half. Barkley scored his team's first 12 points. Barkley scored 27 points in the first quarter and 11 points in the second quarter.
  7. Tied playoff single-game record for field goal attempts (48). 24 field goal attempts in each half.
  8. Tied playoff single-game record for field goals made. 25 field goal attempts in the first half, tying the playoff record. 14 field goals made in the first half. Jordan scored 12 points in the first quarter, 16 points in the second quarter, 15 points in the third quarter and 12 points in the fourth quarter. The second of consecutive 50+ point games in the playoffs by Jordan; becoming the only player in playoff history to do so.
  9. 14 field goals made in the first half, tying the NBA Finals record. Jordan scored 11 points in the first quarter, 22 points in the second quarter, 10 points in the third quarter and 12 points in the fourth quarter.
  10. Double overtime. Lillard broke the NBA playoff record for three pointers made and set a franchise record for number of points in a playoff game. He hit multiple clutch three-pointers at the end of regulation, the end of the first overtime, and during the second overtime to keep Portland competitive with Denver in the loss.
  11. Tied playoff single-game record for field goals made. 14 field goals made in the first half.
  12. Jordan scored 17 points in the first quarter, 10 points in the second quarter, 18 points in the third quarter and 9 points in the fourth quarter.
  13. Set playoff single-game record for field goals made.
  14. West made two free throws with four seconds remaining in the game to secure the win.
  15. 32 points in the second half. Missed his first free throw in the game, then made 20 in a row. West scored four points in the game's final 23 seconds to secure a come-from-behind win. 14 free throws made in a half, a playoff record at the time.
  16. 39 points in the second half, and 29 points in the fourth quarter, both playoff records. Also set a playoff record with 12 (all consecutive) field goals made in the fourth quarter. 15 field goals made in the second half.
  17. Triple overtime. Tied playoff single-game record for three-point field goals made. Set playoff single-game record for three-point field goal attempts.
  18. Both Mitchell and Denver's Jamal Murray scored at least 50 points during the game, the first time in NBA playoff history that two players in the same game did so.
  19. Most points scored in a Game 7 in NBA history.
  20. Quadruple overtime. Set playoff single-game record for free throws made. Free throw attempts were also a playoff record at the time.
  21. Pettit scored 11 straight points, 19 of his team's last 21 points, and 19 points total in the fourth quarter.
  22. McAdoo scored 15 points in the third quarter and another 15 points in the fourth quarter.
  23. 13 field goals made in the first half. The first of back-to-back games of 50+ points; Jordan is the only player in history to record consecutive 50-point games in the playoffs. Jordan scored 9 points in the first quarter. Jordan outscored the entire opposing team 20–19 in the second quarter.
  24. Overtime. Jordan scored 19 points in the first half, 29 points in the second half (including 19 points in the third quarter and 10 points in the fourth quarter) and 2 points in overtime. 16 free throw attempts in the first half, a playoff record at the time.
  25. Oldest player (36 years, 273 days) to score 50 points in a playoff game.
  26. Carter tied the playoff single-game record for three-point field goals made. He set the playoff record with eight three-point field goals made in the first half. Carter scored 15 points in the first quarter and 19 points in the second quarter.
  27. Scored 12 out of the Lakers' 13 in overtime. 38 before OT.
  28. Both Murray and Utah's Donovan Mitchell scored at least 50 points during the game, the first time in NBA playoff history that two players in the same game did so.
  29. Title-clinching Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals.

References

  1. [1]
    "2024 Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  2. [2]
    "Donovan Mitchell's 57 points rank third in NBA single-game playoff history". nba.com. August 17, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  3. [3]
    Reynolds, Tim (April 24, 2023). "BUTLER SCORES 56, HEAT STUN BUCKS 119-114 FOR 3-1 LEAD". nba.com. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Stephen Curry's 50 sets Game 7 record as Warriors eliminate Kings". espn.com. April 30, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  5. [5]
    "Joel Embiid scores 50 to get 76ers first win of series vs. Knicks". espn.com. April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
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