The NBA Playoffs are the subsequent degree of basketball, when the depth goes up and the stakes are at their highest.
The match-ups within the playoffs are a chance for the largest stars to shine the brightest on the largest stage, in entrance of the watching NBA world.
And it is usually slightly tougher for gamers to rack up enormous scores, as an illustration, Kobe Bryant’s insane 81-point sport got here in the course of the common season, as was Wilt Chamberlain’s well-known 100 factors.
The bar for the excessive scoring particular person sport within the playoffs is slightly decrease, because of the additional intense defenses – and it will not be shock that Michael Jordan ranks at primary.
Here’s a breakdown of the highest particular person playoff performances of all time…
Michael Jordan introduced himself to the basketball world in Sport 2 of a primary spherical playoff sport in opposition to the Boston Celtics in 1986, setting a document that also stands virtually a full 40 years later.
It was not sufficient to cease the Chicago Bulls dropping 135-131 in double time beyond regulation, with the Celtics sweeping a younger Jordan 4-0 within the sequence, on the best way to successful the championship.
Talking after the sport, Larry Chook famously mentioned: “I didn’t assume anybody was able to doing what Michael has performed to us. He’s essentially the most thrilling, superior participant within the sport right this moment. I feel it’s simply God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
The document Michael Jordan broke belonged to LA Lakers legend Elgin Baylor, the previous primary general draft choose in 1958.
4 years later he had proved why it was a wise alternative, setting a NBA document on the time that even now ranks because the quantity two of all time within the playoffs.
Baylor’s 61 factors additionally got here in opposition to the Boston Celtics, for the Lakers, nevertheless it was not sufficient to cease the Jap Convention juggernaut successful the sequence, and the title.

The best particular person playoff sport in latest seasons got here from Donovan Mitchell for the Utah Jazz in opposition to the Denver Nuggets.
Mitchell’s 57 factors got here contained in the NBA Bubble in 2020 – however identical to Elgin Baylor and Michael Jordan’s massive performances, it didn’t cease him ending up on the dropping aspect, with the Denver Nuggets successful 135-125.
The Jazz went on to blow a 3-1 sequence lead, and this marked the start of the tip for that workforce, with Mitchell leaving for the Cavaliers in 2022.
The 56 level marker has been reached 4 separate instances in NBA Playoffs historical past, every by completely different gamers.
Whereas Jordan, Baylor and Mitchell’s massive scores got here in losses, all 4 participant to attain 56 factors did so to guide their groups to victories, sharing the honour of scoring essentially the most factors in a NBA Playoffs win.
Participant | 12 months | Group | Rating |
Jimmy Butler | 2023 | Miami Warmth | 119-114 (W) vs Bucks |
Charles Barkley | 1994 | Phoenix Suns | 140-133 (W) vs Warriors |
Michael Jordan | 1992 | Chicago Bulls | 119-114 (W) vs Warmth |
Wilt Chamberlain | 1962 | Philadelphia Warriors | 121-104 (W) vs Syracuse |