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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), Donovan Mitchell (three times), Jerry West (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 scored 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 scored 50 points against the Sacramento Kings on April 30, 2023, and Jayson Tatum, who scored 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 Utah Jazz, 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

[edit]
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[a]
§ 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
MP Minutes played FGM Field goals made FGA Field goal attempts
FG% Field goal percentage 3PM 3-point field goals made 3PA 3-point field goal attempts
3P% 3-point field goal percentage FTM Free throws made FTA Free throw attempts
FT% Free throw percentage TRB Rebound (basketball) AST Assist (basketball)

Single-game leaders

[edit]
Rank Points Player Team Date Opponent Series Score MP FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% TRB AST Notes Ref.
1 63 Michael Jordan* Chicago Bulls April 20, 1986 Boston Celtics 1986 Eastern Conference First Round 131–135 53 22 41 53.7 0 0 0 19 21 90.5 5 6 [b] [2]
2 61 Elgin Baylor* Los Angeles Lakers April 14, 1962 Boston Celtics 1962 NBA Finals 126–121 48 22 46 47.8 17 19 89.5 22 1 [c] [2]
3 57 Donovan Mitchell^ Utah Jazz August 17, 2020 Denver Nuggets 2020 Western Conference First Round 125–135 43:14 19 33 57.6 6 15 40.0 13 13 100 9 7 [2]
4 56 Wilt Chamberlain* Philadelphia Warriors March 22, 1962 Syracuse Nationals 1962 Eastern Division Semi-finals 121–104 48 22 48 45.8 12 22 54.5 35 1 [d]
Michael Jordan* (2) Chicago Bulls April 29, 1992 Miami Heat 1992 Eastern Conference First Round 119–114 43 20 30 66.7 0 0 0 16 18 88.9 5 5 [e]
Charles Barkley* Phoenix Suns May 4, 1994 Golden State Warriors 1994 Western Conference First Round 140–133 41 23 31 74.2 3 4 75.0 7 9 77.8 14 4 [f] [2]
Jimmy Butler^ Miami Heat April 24, 2023 Milwaukee Bucks 2023 Eastern Conference First Round 119–114 40:45 19 28 67.9 3 8 37.5 15 18 83.3 9 2 [3]
8 55 Rick Barry* San Francisco Warriors April 18, 1967 Philadelphia 76ers 1967 NBA Finals 130–124 46 22 48 45.8 11 19 57.9 12 5 [g]
Michael Jordan* (3) Chicago Bulls May 1, 1988 Cleveland Cavaliers 1988 Eastern Conference First Round 106–101 44 24 45 53.3 0 0 0 7 7 100 6 3 [h]
Michael Jordan* (4) Chicago Bulls June 16, 1993 Phoenix Suns 1993 NBA Finals 111–105 46 21 37 56.8 0 1 0 13 18 72.2 8 4 [i]
Michael Jordan* (5) Chicago Bulls April 27, 1997 Washington Bullets 1997 Eastern Conference First Round 109–104 44:13 22 35 62.9 1 2 50.0 10 10 100 7 2
Allen Iverson* Philadelphia 76ers April 20, 2003 New Orleans Hornets 2003 Eastern Conference First Round 98–90 46:40 21 32 65.6 3 5 60.0 10 11 90.9 4 8 [2]
Damian Lillard^ Portland Trail Blazers June 1, 2021 Denver Nuggets 2021 Western Conference First Round 140–147 51:44 17 24 70.8 12 17 70.6 9 10 90.0 6 10 [j]
14 54 John Havlicek* Boston Celtics April 1, 1973 Atlanta Hawks 1973 Eastern Conference Semi-finals 134–109 48 24 36 66.7 6 6 100 9 6 [k]
Michael Jordan* (6) Chicago Bulls May 31, 1993 New York Knicks 1993 Eastern Conference Finals 105–95 39 18 30 60.0 6 9 66.7 12 14 85.7 6 2 [l]
Allen Iverson* (2) Philadelphia 76ers May 9, 2001 Toronto Raptors 2001 Eastern Conference Semi-finals 97–92 47:46 21 39 53.8 3 5 60.0 9 9 100 5 4
17 53 Wilt Chamberlain* (2) Philadelphia Warriors March 14, 1960 Syracuse Nationals 1960 Eastern Division Semi-finals 132–112 47 24 42 57.1 5 16 31.3 22 2 [m]
Jerry West* Los Angeles Lakers April 23, 1969 Boston Celtics 1969 NBA Finals 120–118 46:00 21 41 51.2 11 13 84.6 3 10 [n]
Isaiah Thomas^ Boston Celtics May 2, 2017 Washington Wizards 2017 Eastern Conference Semi-finals 129–119 44:33 18 33 54.5 5 12 41.7 12 13 92.3 4 4
Nikola Jokić^ Denver Nuggets May 7, 2023 Phoenix Suns 2023 Western Conference Semi-finals 124–129 39:27 20 30 66.7 2 4 50.0 11 13 84.6 4 11
21 52 Jerry West* (2) Los Angeles Lakers April 5, 1965 Baltimore Bullets 1965 Western Division Finals 118–115 16 38 42.1 20 21 95.2 5 9 [o]
Allen Iverson* (3) Philadelphia 76ers May 16, 2001 Toronto Raptors 2001 Eastern Conference Semi-finals 121–88 43:29 21 32 65.6 8 14 57.1 2 2 100 2 7
23 51 Sam Jones* Boston Celtics March 28, 1967 New York Knicks 1967 Eastern Division Semi-finals 118–109 43 19 30 63.3 13 17 76.5 4 1
Eric "Sleepy" Floyd Golden State Warriors May 10, 1987 Los Angeles Lakers 1987 Western Conference Semi-finals 129–121 44 18 26 69.2 2 3 66.7 13 14 92.9 3 10 [p]
Ray Allen* Boston Celtics April 30, 2009 Chicago Bulls 2009 Eastern Conference First Round 127–128 58:45 18 32 56.3 9 18 50.0 6 7 85.7 5 3 [q]
Russell Westbrook^ Oklahoma City Thunder April 19, 2017 Houston Rockets 2017 Western Conference Quarterfinals 111–115 41:22 17 43 39.5 1 7 14.3 15 18 83.3 10 13
LeBron James^ Cleveland Cavaliers May 31, 2018 Golden State Warriors 2018 NBA Finals 114–124 47:32 19 32 59.4 3 7 42.9 10 11 90.9 8 8
Donovan Mitchell^ (2) Utah Jazz August 23, 2020 Denver Nuggets 2020 Western Conference First Round 129–127 38:09 15 27 55.6 4 7 57.1 17 18 94.4 4 7 [r]
Jayson Tatum^ Boston Celtics May 14, 2023 Philadelphia 76ers 2023 Eastern Conference Semi-finals 112–88 41:40 17 28 60.7 6 10 60.0 11 14 78.6 13 5 [s]
30 50 Bob Cousy* Boston Celtics March 21, 1953 Syracuse Nationals 1953 Eastern Division Semi-finals 111–105 66 10 22 45.5 30 32 93.8 2 [t]
Bob Pettit* St. Louis Hawks April 12, 1958 Boston Celtics 1958 NBA Finals 110–109 42 19 34 55.9 12 15 80.0 19 [u]
Wilt Chamberlain* (3) Philadelphia Warriors March 22, 1960 Boston Celtics 1960 Eastern Division Finals 128–107 46 22 42 52.4 6 14 42.9 35 2
Wilt Chamberlain* (4) San Francisco Warriors April 10, 1964 St. Louis Hawks 1964 Western Division Finals 121–97 45 22 32 68.8 6 10 60.0 15 6
Billy Cunningham* Philadelphia 76ers April 1, 1970 Milwaukee Bucks 1970 Eastern Division Semi-finals 111–118 48 22 39 56.4 6 8 75.0 10 2
Bob McAdoo* Buffalo Braves April 18, 1975 Washington Bullets 1975 Eastern Conference Semi-finals 108–102 45 20 32 62.5 10 14 71.4 21 1 [v]
Dominique Wilkins* Atlanta Hawks April 19, 1986 Detroit Pistons 1986 Eastern Conference First Round 137–125 33 19 28 67.9 0 0 0 12 15 80.0 5 3
Michael Jordan* (7) Chicago Bulls April 28, 1988 Cleveland Cavaliers 1988 Eastern Conference First Round 104–93 44 19 35 54.3 0 0 0 12 12 100 7 2 [w]
Michael Jordan* (8) Chicago Bulls May 5, 1989 Cleveland Cavaliers 1989 Eastern Conference First Round 105–108 43 14 28 50.0 0 1 0 22 27 81.5 3 4 [x]
Karl Malone* Utah Jazz April 22, 2000 Seattle SuperSonics 2000 Western Conference First Round 104–93 43:16 18 32 56.3 1 1 100 13 14 92.9 12 0 [y]
Vince Carter* Toronto Raptors May 11, 2001 Philadelphia 76ers 2001 Eastern Conference Semi-finals 102–78 44:44 19 29 65.5 9 13 69.2 3 3 100 6 7 [z]
Kobe Bryant* Los Angeles Lakers May 4, 2006 Phoenix Suns 2006 Western Conference First Round 118–126 52:06 20 35 57.1 5 8 62.5 5 6 83.3 8 5 [aa]
Dirk Nowitzki* Dallas Mavericks June 1, 2006 Phoenix Suns 2006 Western Conference Finals 117–101 43:29 14 26 53.8 5 6 83.3 17 18 94.4 12 3
Damian Lillard^ (2) Portland Trail Blazers April 23, 2019 Oklahoma City Thunder 2019 Western Conference First Round 118–115 45:16 17 33 51.5 10 18 55.6 6 8 75.0 7 6
Kevin Durant^ Golden State Warriors April 26, 2019 Los Angeles Clippers 2019 Western Conference First Round 129–110 42:03 15 26 57.7 6 14 42.9 14 15 93.3 6 5
Jamal Murray^ Denver Nuggets August 23, 2020 Utah Jazz 2020 Western Conference First Round 127–129 43:09 18 31 58.1 9 15 60.0 5 5 100 11 7 [ab]
Jamal Murray^ (2) Denver Nuggets August 30, 2020 Utah Jazz 2020 Western Conference First Round 119–107 43:03 17 24 70.8 9 12 75.0 7 9 77.8 5 6
Jayson Tatum^ (2) Boston Celtics May 28, 2021 Brooklyn Nets 2021 Eastern Conference First Round 125–119 40:31 16 30 53.3 5 11 45.5 13 15 86.7 6 7
Giannis Antetokounmpo^ Milwaukee Bucks July 20, 2021 Phoenix Suns 2021 NBA Finals 105–98 42 16 25 64 1 3 33.3 17 19 89.5 14 2 [ac]
Stephen Curry^ Golden State Warriors April 30, 2023 Sacramento Kings 2023 NBA Western Conference First Round 120–100 37:41 20 38 52.6 7 18 38.9 3 5 60.0 8 6 [4]
Joel Embiid^ Philadelphia 76ers April 25, 2024 New York Knicks 2024 NBA Eastern Conference First Round 125–114 41 13 19 68.4 5 7 71.4 19 21 90.5 8 4 [5]
Donovan Mitchell^ (3) Cleveland Cavaliers May 3, 2024 Orlando Magic 2024 Eastern Conference First Round 96–103 41:34 22 36 61.1 3 9 33.3 3 6 50.00 4 4 [6]

See also

[edit]

Notes

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  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

[edit]
  1. ^ "2024 Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Donovan Mitchell's 57 points rank third in NBA single-game playoff history". nba.com. August 17, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  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. ^ "Stephen Curry's 50 sets Game 7 record as Warriors eliminate Kings". espn.com. April 30, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  5. ^ "Joel Embiid scores 50 to get 76ers first win of series vs. Knicks". espn.com. April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "Donovan Mitchell with 50 Points vs. Orlando Magic". nba.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
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