Most points in a playoff game: Where does Stephen Curry’s 50-point EXPLOSION rank?

Know all about the top 5 highest-scoring performances in playoffs history.


Most points in a playoff game: Where does Stephen Curry’s 50-point EXPLOSION rank?

Stephen Curry, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Michael Jordan and Damian Lillard

Stephen Curry shocked the basketball world by dropping a 50-point bomb against the Sacramento Kings in Game 7 of the first-round series. Those are the most points in a playoff Game 7. And many fans would be shocked to know that Stephen Curry’s 50-point performance isn’t even the best playoff performance out there. The chef cooked the Kings but didn’t even make it to the Top-5 or even Top-10 performances for the most points in a playoff game ever.

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Obviously, Stephen Curry pulling this godly performance in Game 7 with the season being on the line is some GOATED stuff. And he even leads the chart for that. But the basketball world has seen many better performances where players just balled out during the NBA Playoffs. Curry’s 50-point performance is surely for the history books. But the league has experienced many more brutal explosions in terms of scoring in the postseason.

Related: Most points in Game 7 of playoffs: Stephen Curry CREATES HISTORY in Warriors’ blowout win over Kings

Players to record better playoff performances than Stephen Curry’s 50-point Game 7 run

The players who top the list above Stephen Curry are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Damian Lillard, Jamal Murray, Dirk Nowitzki, Karl Malone, Dominique Williams, Wilt Chamberlain, Ray Allen, Elgin Baylor, Jimmy Butler, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, Donovan Mitchell, Rick Barry, John Havlicek, Isaiah Thomas, Sam Jones, Eric Floyd, Bob Cousy, Russell Westbrook, Bob Pettit, Billy Cunningham, Bob McAdoo, Kevin Durant, and Jerry West.

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The list is quite lengthy and includes a plethora of excellent athletes. And, in terms of playoff scoring, every one of the aforementioned stars have outperformed Stephen Curry’s 50-point outburst against the Kings. However, the five scoring runs that top the list are the most remarkable and extraordinary performances. The top five performances with the most points in a playoff game are shown below: 

Top 5 players to record the most points in a playoff game

5. Michael Jordan, Damian Lillard, Rick Barry, and Allen Iverson erupting for a 55-point performance

At fifth place for the most points in a playoff game, we have a tie between Michael Jordan, Damian Lillard, Rick Barry, and Allen Iverson as the four superstars erupted for 55 points. Rick Barry got his performance in the 1967 NBA Finals between the San Fransisco Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers. His performance led the Warriors to get a dub at 130-124. Michael Jordan recorded the following score thrice during the playoffs (1993 NBA Finals and ECFR of 1998 and 1997). And he won all those match-ups. His opponents were Washington Bullets, Phoenix Suns, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Allen Iverson got his performance against the New Orleans Hornets during the first round of the 2003 playoffs. He led the Sixers to a dub against New Orleans Hornets at 98-90. Damian Lillard, though, is the only player in this elite club who ended with a loss against the Denver Nuggets at 140-147 during the 2021 Playoffs.

4. Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Jimmy Butler erupting for a 56-point performance

At fourth place for the most points in a playoff game, we have a tie between Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and Jimmy Butler as the four superstars erupted for 56 points. Wilt Chamberlain did it in the Division Semi-Finals of 1962 between the Philadelphia Warriors and Syracuse Nationals. Michael Jordan got his performance during the first round of the 1992 playoffs between the Bulls and Heat.

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Charles Barkley got his 56-point performance during the first round of the 1994 playoffs between the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. Jimmy Butler recorded his record-breaking performance during the first-round series of the 2023 playoffs between the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat. All the superstars won their respective games.

3. Donovan Mitchell erupting for 57 points

Donovan Mitchell holds the third position for the most points in a playoff game as he recorded 57 points during the first round of the 2020 playoffs series between the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets. Unfortunately, he ended up on the losing end as the Nuggets got the dub with a 10-point lead at 135-125.

2. Elgin Baylor erupting for 61 points

Elgin Baylor holds the second spot for the most points in a playoff game as he erupted for a 61-point bomb during the 1962 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Baylor, with his godly performance, led the Lakers to victory at 126-121. But the Lakers lost the championship to the Celtics late in the series.

1. Michael Jordan erupting for 63 points

Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan scored the most points in a playoff game as he experienced a career night during the first round of the 1986 NBA Playoffs. He recorded 63 points during the match-up between the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, his efforts weren’t enough to win the game, as the Celtics got the job done at 131-135. But that moment was the start of Michael Jordan’s journey to destroy the league and cement his legacy as the GOAT.

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