Most Points Scored in an NBA Game: Historic Records & Legendary Performances

The NBA has witnessed some of the most incredible scoring performances in sports history, from Wilt Chamberlain’s unbreakable 100-point game in 1962 to recent high-scoring efforts by today’s superstars. Basketball fans love offense, and legendary scoring nights are always remembered as defining moments in NBA lore.

This article explore all-time single-game scoring feats — both in the regular season and playoffs — and highlights the players and performances that rewrote the NBA scoring record books.

The Supreme Scoring Record: Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-Point Game

On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain etched his name into basketball history with an astonishing 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks. He achieved this remarkable feat in 48 minutes of play, shooting efficiently from the field (36-of-63) and an outstanding free-throw percentage (28-of-32). Chamberlain’s performance included scoring 23 points in the first quarter and 41 by halftime — an offensive showcase never matched before or since.

This 100-point game remains the highest individual scoring performance in a single NBA game, and it has stood firm for six decades.

Read Also: NBA Draft 2026: Top Prospects Race, Rising Trends 

All-Time Highest Single-Game Scorers (Regular Season)

Many great players have made history with incredible scoring nights. Below is a summary of the top scoring performances in NBA regular season history:

Rank	Player	Points	Team	Opponent	Year
1	Wilt Chamberlain	100	Philadelphia Warriors	New York Knicks	1962
2	Kobe Bryant	81	Los Angeles Lakers	Toronto Raptors	2006
3	Wilt Chamberlain	78	Philadelphia Warriors	Los Angeles Lakers	1961
T-4	Luka Dončić	73	Dallas Mavericks	Atlanta Hawks	2024
T-4	David Thompson	73	Denver Nuggets	Detroit Pistons	1978
T-4	Wilt Chamberlain	73	Philadelphia Warriors	Chicago Packers	1962
T-4	Wilt Chamberlain	73	San Francisco Warriors	New York Knicks	1962
8	Wilt Chamberlain	72	San Francisco Warriors	Los Angeles Lakers	1962
T-9	Elgin Baylor	71	Los Angeles Lakers	New York Knicks	1960
T-9	David Robinson	71	San Antonio Spurs	LA Clippers	1994
T-9	Donovan Mitchell	71	Cleveland Cavaliers	Chicago Bulls	2023
T-9	Damian Lillard	71	Portland Trail Blazers	Houston Rockets	2023
T-13	Joel Embiid	70	Philadelphia 76ers	San Antonio Spurs	2024
T-13	Devin Booker	70	Phoenix Suns	Boston Celtics	2017
T-13	Wilt Chamberlain	70	San Francisco Warriors	Syracuse Nationals	1963
16	Michael Jordan	69	Chicago Bulls	Cleveland Cavaliers	1990
T-17	Pete Maravich	68	New Orleans Jazz	New York Knicks	1977
T-17	Wilt Chamberlain	68	Philadelphia 76ers	Chicago Bulls	1967
T-19	Wilt Chamberlain	67	Philadelphia Warriors	New York Knicks	1961
T-19	Wilt Chamberlain	67	Philadelphia Warriors	St. Louis Hawks	1962
T-19	Wilt Chamberlain	67	Philadelphia Warriors	New York Knicks	1962
T-19	Wilt Chamberlain	67	San Francisco Warriors	St. Louis Hawks	1963
23	Wilt Chamberlain	66	Los Angeles Lakers	Phoenix Suns	1969
T-24	Wilt Chamberlain	65	Philadelphia Warriors	Cincinnati Royals	1962
T-24	Wilt Chamberlain	65	Philadelphia Warriors	St. Louis Hawks	1962
T-24	Wilt Chamberlain	65	Philadelphia 76ers	Los Angeles Lakers	1966
T-24	Kobe Bryant	65	Los Angeles Lakers	Portland Trail Blazers	2007
T-28	Giannis Antetokounmpo	64	Milwaukee Bucks	Indiana Pacers	2023
T-28	Elgin Baylor	64	Minneapolis Lakers	Boston Celtics	1959
T-28	Rick Barry	64	Golden State Warriors	Portland Trail Blazers	1974
32	Joe Fulks	63	Philadelphia Warriors	Indianapolis Jets	1949
32	Elgin Baylor	63	Los Angeles Lakers	Philadelphia Warriors	1961
32	Jerry West	63	Los Angeles Lakers	New York Knicks	1962
32	Wilt Chamberlain	63	San Francisco Warriors	Los Angeles Lakers	1962
32	Wilt Chamberlain	63	San Francisco Warriors	Cincinnati Royals	1964
32	George Gervin	63	San Antonio Spurs	New Orleans Jazz	1978
32	Michael Jordan	63	Chicago Bulls	Boston Celtics	1986
38	Wilt Chamberlain	62	Various	Multiple	1961–1966
38	Tracy McGrady	62	Orlando Magic	Washington Wizards	2004
38	Kobe Bryant	62	Los Angeles Lakers	Dallas Mavericks	2005
38	Carmelo Anthony	62	New York Knicks	Charlotte Bobcats	2014
38	Stephen Curry	62	Golden State Warriors	Portland Trail Blazers	2021
38	Karl-Anthony Towns	62	Minnesota Timberwolves	Charlotte Hornets	2024
49	George Mikan	61	Minneapolis Lakers	Rochester Royals	1952
49	Wilt Chamberlain	61	Philadelphia Warriors / San Francisco Warriors	Multiple	1961–1962
49	Elgin Baylor	61	Los Angeles Lakers	Boston Celtics	1962
49	Michael Jordan	61	Chicago Bulls	Pistons/Hawks	1987
49	Karl Malone	61	Utah Jazz	Milwaukee Bucks	1990
49	Shaquille O’Neal	61	Los Angeles Lakers	LA Clippers	2000
49	Kobe Bryant	61	Los Angeles Lakers	New York Knicks	2009
49	LeBron James	61	Miami Heat	Charlotte Bobcats	2014
49	James Harden	61	Houston Rockets	Knicks/Spurs	2019
49	Damian Lillard	61	Portland Trail Blazers	Warriors/Nets	2020
67	All Players with 60	–	–	–	1961–2023

(60-point club includes Larry Bird, Bernard King, Allen Iverson, Gilbert Arenas, Klay Thompson, Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, Luka Dončić, Bradley Beal, Tom Chambers, and more.)

These performances highlight how elite scoring can happen in any era, from the early high-scoring 1960s to the modern era with stars like Dončić and Embiid joining the 70-point club.

Most Points Scored in an NBA Playoff Game

Scoring in the postseason is typically more defensive, making high point totals even more impressive:

Rank	Player	Points	Team	Opponent	Round	Year
1	Michael Jordan	63	Chicago Bulls	Boston Celtics	First Round (2OT)	1986
2	Elgin Baylor	61	Los Angeles Lakers	Boston Celtics	NBA Finals	1962
3	Donovan Mitchell	57	Utah Jazz	Denver Nuggets	First Round	2020
T-4	Wilt Chamberlain	56	Philadelphia Warriors	Syracuse Nationals	Playoffs	1962
T-4	Michael Jordan	56	Chicago Bulls	Miami Heat	First Round	1992
T-4	Charles Barkley	56	Phoenix Suns	Golden State Warriors	First Round	1994
T-4	Jimmy Butler	56	Miami Heat	Milwaukee Bucks	First Round	2023
T-8	Rick Barry	55	San Francisco Warriors	Philadelphia 76ers	Finals	1967
T-8	Michael Jordan	55	Chicago Bulls	Cleveland Cavaliers	First Round	1988
T-8	Michael Jordan	55	Chicago Bulls	Phoenix Suns	Finals	1993
T-8	Michael Jordan	55	Chicago Bulls	Washington Bullets	First Round	1997
T-8	Allen Iverson	55	Philadelphia 76ers	New Orleans Hornets	First Round	2003
T-8	Damian Lillard	55	Portland Trail Blazers	Denver Nuggets	First Round (2OT)	2021

Michael Jordan’s 63-point game in the 1986 playoffs remains the highest scoring performance in postseason history. Larry Bird famously called Jordan’s performance “God disguised as Michael Jordan” — t a tribute to one of the greatest playoff scoring nights ever.

Modern Scoring Milestones

Recent seasons have seen high-scoring games from new generation stars:

• Luka Dončić dropped 73 points in 2024, becoming one of the few players to score 70+ in a modern NBA game.
• Joel Embiid scored 70 points in 2024, showcasing dominant inside and outside scoring ability.
• Nikola Jokić logged 61 points in 2025, a rare performance from a center who excels in all facets of offense.

These modern efforts show that elite scoring is alive and well in today’s NBA.

See Also: Most Turnovers in an NFL Game

Scoring Trends & Context Over Time

Changes in Scoring Style

NBA scoring has evolved dramatically over the decades:

• 1960s: Dominated by big men with high usage inside the paint, like Wilt Chamberlain.
• 2000s: The rise of isolation scorers like Kobe Bryant pushed scoring peaks higher.
• Modern Era: Increased emphasis on pace and space allows for effective high scoring with three-point shooting and pace, contributing to big games from players like Dončić and Embiid.

Influence of Game Pace & Rules

Higher pace and changes in defensive rules have made scoring more prolific, but the sheer volume needed to challenge Wilt’s 100 remains unmatched.

Other Historic High-Scoring Games in NBA History

Some extraordinary scoring nights include:

• Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game in 2006 — the second-highest in NBA history.
• Multiple 70+ point games by Chamberlain, showcasing his unprecedented dominance.
• Devin Booker and Joel Embiid joining the 70-point club, cementing their place among elite scorers.

These performances remain among the most memorable in NBA history, thrilling fans and setting benchmarks for future generations.

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