Who Scored The Most Points In An NBA Game?
We all know that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. But did you know that he also holds the record for the most points scored in an NBA game?
In fact, MJ scored a whopping 63 points in a single game against the Atlanta Hawks back in 1986. And he did it in just three quarters!
That’s an incredible feat, and it just goes to show how truly talented Jordan was on the court. If you’re a fan of basketball,
Wilt Chamberlain
On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain set the NBA single-game scoring record by tallying 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 169-147 victory over the New York Knicks. Chamberlain, who stands 7-foot-1, played all 48 minutes and finished with an astonishing 60.5 field-goal percentage. He also pulled down 23 rebounds.
On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain scored 100 points against the New York Knicks
Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game was a feat accomplished by no other player in NBA history. On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain scored 100 points against the New York Knicks, a team that doesn’t even exist anymore. It was a record that stood for 45 years until Kobe Bryant finally broke it. Chamberlain’s game was so impressive that even Knicks players were applauding him by the end.
Chamberlain’s 100-point game is the only one in NBA history
On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain scored an NBA-record 100 points in a 169–147 win over the New York Knicks at Hershey Sports Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It is the only time anyone has ever scored 100 points in an NBA game. The National Basketball Association (NBA) recognized this achievement by erecting a statue of Chamberlain in front of the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where he played for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, winning five NBA championships.
On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors
On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second-most points scored in a single game in NBA history, second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962. That night, Bryant shot 28-of-46 from the field and made all 18 of his free throws. He also had six rebounds and two assists in 42 minutes.
Bryant’s 81-point game is the second-highest scoring game in NBA history
On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a 122–104 victory over the Toronto Raptors, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962. He is the only player in NBA history to score more than 80 points in a single game. Kobe’s historic night started slowly as he only had 15 first-half points. However, he took over in the second half, scoring an astounding 61 points, including 23 in the fourth quarter alone. When it was all said and done, Kobe had made 28 of his 46 shots, including 7 of 13 from three-point range, and 18 of 20 from the free-throw line.
Michael Jordan
On April 20, 1986, Michael Jordan set the record for the most points scored in an NBA game. His Airness dropped an astounding 63 points on the hapless Celtics, leading the Bulls to a 135-131 victory in double-overtime. It was a virtuoso performance for the ages, one that cemented Jordan’s legacy as one of the greatest scorers of all time.
On April 20, 1986, Jordan scored 63 points against the Boston Celtics
It was the playoff game everyone wanted to see: the up-and-coming Chicago Bulls, led by the incomparable Michael Jordan, against the defending champion Boston Celtics. The Celtics had won the Eastern Conference title for three years in a row, and they were looking to make it four. The Bulls, on the other hand, had never even made it to the NBA Finals.
The series was tied at two games apiece when the teams met for Game 5 at Boston Garden. Jordan was determined to win this game and put his team ahead in the series. And he did just that, scoring an incredible 63 points. It was the most points ever scored in a playoff game, and it helped the Bulls win 135-131.
It was a truly amazing performance by Jordan, one that cemented his reputation as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Jordan’s 63-point game is the third-highest scoring game in NBA history
In 1986, against the Boston Celtics, Michael Jordan notched 63 points — the third-highest scoring game in NBA history. This stood as a playoff record until Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game in 2006. Wilt Chamberlain holds the top two spots with 100 points in a 1962 game and 78 points in a 1967 contest.