The NBA playoffs hit different. Everything is more intense. One mistake can be the difference between hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy or heading off for an early vacation.
This pressure is what makes a game-breaking scoring performances so special.
Regular-season brilliance is still impressive, but when the stakes are highest and everyone in the world knows who will be getting the ball, to be successful in those moments is what makes a player great. Or even legendary.
So let's take a look back at some historic scoring outbursts in NBA playoff history. The moments when time stands still and a superstar takes over a game when it matters the most.
There are just two players in NBA history to drop 60+ points in a playoff game: Michael Jordan (63) and Elgin Baylor (61).
Jordan's incredible performance came on April 20, 1986 in game two of the first round. While scoring 63 is jaw-dropping against any opponent, this game is even more impressive when you consider the opponent: the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics were loaded in 1986, with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Bill Walton, Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge. Bird was the NBA MVP that season and would eventually lead Boston to the championship.
But on April 20, no one could stop MJ. In just his second year in the league, Jordan went up against the best team in the NBA and dominated the game. He shot 54% from the field and 19 for 21 from the free-throw line, scoring 63 in a Chicago loss.
For Baylor, things were pretty similar. He scored 61, also against the Celtics. However, Baylor exploded 24 years earlier and his team got the victory.
On April 14, 1962, Baylor and the Lakers were taking on Boston in the Finals. Entering game five, Baylor was in hostile territory inside the Boston Garden.
Baylor played every minute of the game, shooting 48% from the field and 90% from the free-throw line en route to a 61-point outburst and Los Angeles victory.
Player | Points | Date | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
Michael Jordan | 63 | April 20, 1986 | Chicago Bulls |
Elgin Baylor | 61 | April 14, 1962 | Los Angeles Lakers |
Donovan Mitchell | 57 | Aug. 17, 2020 | Utah Jazz |
Jimmy Butler | 56 | April 24, 2023 | Miami Heat |
Charles Barkley | 56 | May 4, 1994 | Phoenix Suns |
Michael Jordan | 56 | April 29, 1992 | Chicago Bulls |
Wilt Chamberlain | 56 | March 22, 1962 | Philadelphia Warriors |
Damian Lillard | 55 | June 1, 2021 | Portland Trail Blazers |
Allen Iverson | 55 | April 20, 2003 | Philadelphia 76ers |
Michael Jordan | 55 | April 27, 1997 | Chicago Bulls |
Michael Jordan | 55 | June 16, 1993 | Chicago Bulls |
Michael Jordan | 55 | May 1, 1988 | Chicago Bulls |
Rick Barry | 55 | April 18, 1967 | San Francisco Warriors |
Highest Scoring NBA Playoff Games
In 1992 the Trail Blazers and Suns combined to score 304 points in a Western conference semifinals game that went to double overtime. This remains the highest-scoring playoff game in NBA history.
While the NBA in the 1990s is often remembered for some hard-hitting defense, it was the offense that stole headlines on May 11, 1992.
Clyde Drexler led the way for Portland, scoring 33 points, but Terry Porter wasn't going to be overshadowed. Porter finished with 31 points, including a three-point play which forced the first overtime.
Kevin Johnson scored 35 points for Phoenix, including a jumper which forced the second overtime. Tom Chambers added 29 points and Jeff Hornacek had 23.
Portland's win resulted in a 3–1 series lead. The Trail Blazers would finish it in game five before losing to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals.
Interestingly enough, the Trail Blazers also played in the second-highest scoring playoff game in history, it just took another 30 years.
In 2021, the Denver Nuggets clashed with Portland in the first round of the playoffs. In game five, Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard scored 55 points while shooting 71% from the three-point line. However, the Nuggets were able to withstand his barrage thanks to great nights from Nikola Jokic (38 points, 11 rebounds), Monte Morris (28 points) and Michael Porter Jr. (26 points, 12 rebounds).
Total Points | Game | Year |
|---|---|---|
304 | Portland (153) - Phoenix (151) 2 OT | 1992 |
287 | Denver (147) - Portland (140) 2 OT | 2021 |
285 | Boston (157) - New York (128) | 1990 |
285 | San Antonio (152) - Denver (133) | 1983 |
280 | Dallas (151) - Seattle (129) | 1987 |
279 | San Francisco (143) - St. Louis (136) | 1967 |
278 | Dallas (141) - Sacramento (137) 2 OT | 2003 |
278 | St. Louis (143) - Minneapolis (135) 2 OT | 1957 |
277 | Portland (140) - Denver (137) 4 OT | 2019 |
277 | Los Angeles (147) - Phoenix (130) | 1985 |
On April 14, 1962 the Philadelphia 76ers and San Francisco Warriors combined to score 276 points in game one of the Finals.
The series as a whole was high scoring, as the winning team in each contest scored at least 117 points, but game one was an explosion.
The Warriors stormed back in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but the 76ers quickly regained control and got the victory. The two teams combined to score at least 56 points in each quarter and 11 total players scored in double figures.
Hal Greer (32 points) and Wali Jones (30 points) led the way for Philadelphia, while Rick Barry scored a game-high 37 points for San Francisco.
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