List of highest-scoring NBA games

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An arena is situated behind an empty parking lot.
McNichols Arena in Denver was the site of the highest-scoring game in NBA history.
An arena is situated behind a road.
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix was the site of the highest-scoring playoff game.

In basketball, points are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals (worth two points from within the three-point line or three points from beyond the three-point line) or free throws (worth one point).[1] The team that records the most points at the end of a game is declared the game's winner. If the game is still tied at the end of regulation play, additional overtime period(s) are played in order to determine the winner.

In the years following the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1946, teams only averaged around 80 points per game.[2] Before the introduction of the shot clock, teams often ran out the clock by passing the ball more frequently after having established a lead in a game. If one team did choose to stall, the opposing team (especially if behind) would often commit fouls to regain possession. This resulted in very low-scoring games with excessive fouls, which negatively affected attendance.[3] Beginning in the 1954–55 season, the NBA implemented a 24-second shot clock, the aim of which was to speed up the game and create a more entertaining experience for those in attendance. If the offensive team failed to hit the rim with the ball within the allotted 24 seconds, they would lose possession.[4] This innovation resulted in higher average scores.[4] Consequently, all of the highest-scoring games in the NBA have happened during the shot-clock era.

Summary[edit]

The highest-scoring regular-season game in NBA history is the triple-overtime game between the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets on December 13, 1983. The two teams combined to score 370 points, with the Pistons defeating the Nuggets 186–184. An NBA-record four players scored over 40 points in the game, including the Nuggets' Kiki Vandeweghe with a game-high 51. The two teams also set several other NBA records, including the most points scored by one team (186 points), the most points scored by a losing team (184), the most field goals by two teams (142), most field goals by one team (74) and most assists by two teams (93).[5][6]

The highest-scoring regular season game in regulation was between the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets on November 2, 1990. In that game, Golden State defeated Denver 162–158. The Warriors' Chris Mullin scored a game-high 38 points. The Nuggets were coached by Doug Moe from 1980 to 1990 and Paul Westhead from 1990 to 1992,[7][8] both of whom employed a run-and-gun offensive strategy, which focuses on attempting a high number of field goals while also conceding a large number of points on defense.[9][10] In fact, Moe's and Westhead's Nuggets were participants in four of the ten highest-scoring regular season games in NBA history. The Warriors were coached by Don Nelson from 1988 to 1995 and 2006 to 2010.[11] He employed Nellie Ball, a style of run and gun that uses smaller, more athletic players to outrun opponents.[12] Another notable high-scoring regular season game is a March 2, 1962, game between the Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks. In that game, the Warriors' Wilt Chamberlain scored an NBA-record 100 points.[13]

The highest-scoring playoff game is the double-overtime game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns on May 11, 1992. The two teams combined to score 304 points, with the Trail Blazers defeating the Suns 153–151. The Suns' Kevin Johnson scored a game-high 35 points, with 12 other players also scoring in double figures. The highest-scoring playoff game in regulation occurred when the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Denver Nuggets with a score of 152–133 for a combined score of 285 points on April 26, 1983. In that game, the Spurs' George Gervin scored a game-high 42 points.

Most of the highest-scoring games happened before the 1995–96 season, when the average scoring (points per game) per team was always in the 100s.[2] Until the emergence of small ball in 2013, the average had dropped down to the 90s.[14] From 1995 though 2012, only two games made the top-ten lists of both the regular season and playoffs: a May 10, 2003, game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings and a December 7, 2006, game between the Phoenix Suns and New Jersey Nets. The Mavericks and the Suns were coached by Nelson and Mike D'Antoni respectively, both of whom also made use of the run-and-gun style.[15] The 2018–19 season saw an entry into this list with a quadruple-overtime game between the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks. The 2022–23 season then saw an entry into this list with the second-highest scoring game in history, a double-overtime game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings.

List[edit]

Key
OT Overtime (the number indicates the number of overtime periods played)
* Indicates a game that was won by the road team

Highest-scoring regular season games[edit]

Rank Total points Date Location Winner Result OT Loser Notes Ref.
1
370
 December 13, 1983 McNichols Arena
Denver, Colorado 		Detroit Pistons* 186–184 3 Denver Nuggets
  • NBA records
    • Highest-scoring record[a]
    • The winning and losing teams respectively scored the most and second-most points in a game by one team
    • The teams combined for 142 field goals[5]
    • The teams combined for 93 total assists[5]
    • 4 players scored at least 40 points[5]
  • Nuggets' Kiki VanDeWeghe scored a game-high 51 points, a career high.[5][16]
  • Leading scorers
[17]
2
351
 February 24, 2023 Crypto.com Arena
Los Angeles, California 		Sacramento Kings* 176–175 2 Los Angeles Clippers [18]
3
337
 March 6, 1982 HemisFair Arena
San Antonio, Texas 		San Antonio Spurs 171–166 3 Milwaukee Bucks [19]
4 329 March 1, 2019 State Farm Arena
Atlanta, Georgia 		Chicago Bulls* 168–161 4 Atlanta Hawks
  • Highest scoring game with 4 or more overtimes in the NBA.
  • Most losses by the losing team in a game with more than 316 points.
  • Most losses by the winning team in a game with more than 316 points.
  • Hawks' Trae Young scored a game-high 49 points.
  • Leading scorers
[20]
5
320
 November 2, 1990 McNichols Arena
Denver, Colorado 		Golden State Warriors* 162–158 — Denver Nuggets [21]
6
318
 January 11, 1984 McNichols Arena
Denver, Colorado 		Denver Nuggets 163–155 — San Antonio Spurs [23]
December 7, 2006 Continental Airlines Arena
East Rutherford, New Jersey 		Phoenix Suns* 161–157 2 New Jersey Nets [24]
8
317
 October 30, 2019 Capital One Arena
Washington, D.C. 		Houston Rockets* 159–158 — Washington Wizards [26]
9
316
 March 2, 1962 Hershey Sports Arena
Hershey, Pennsylvania 		Philadelphia Warriors 169–147 — New York Knicks [27]
March 12, 1970 Cincinnati Gardens
Cincinnati 		Cincinnati Royals 165–151 — San Diego Rockets [28]
November 10, 1990 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Phoenix, Arizona 		Phoenix Suns 173–143 — Denver Nuggets [29]

Highest-scoring playoff games[edit]

Highest-scoring playoff games
Rank Total
points 		Date Location Winner Result OT Loser Notes Ref.
1
304
 May 11, 1992 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Phoenix, Arizona 		Portland Trail Blazers* 153–151 2 Phoenix Suns [30]
2
287
 June 1, 2021 Ball Arena
Denver, Colorado 		Denver Nuggets 147–140 2 Portland Trail Blazers
  • NBA playoff record
  • Lillard scored a game-high 55 points, setting a franchise single-game playoff record.[31]
  • Leading scorers
  • Game 5 of the first round, Nuggets won the series 4–2.
 [32]
3
285
 April 26, 1983 HemisFair Arena
San Antonio, Texas 		San Antonio Spurs 152–133 — Denver Nuggets [33]
April 28, 1990 Boston Garden
Boston 		Boston Celtics 157–128 — New York Knicks [34]
5
280
 April 23, 1987 Reunion Arena
Dallas 		Dallas Mavericks 151–129 — Seattle SuperSonics [35]
6
279
 April 1, 1967 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
Oakland, California 		San Francisco Warriors 143–136 — St. Louis Hawks [36]
7
278
 March 25, 1957 Minneapolis Auditorium
Minneapolis 		St. Louis Hawks* 143–135 2 Minneapolis Lakers [37]
May 10, 2003 ARCO Arena
Sacramento, California 		Dallas Mavericks* 141–137 2 Sacramento Kings [38]
9
277
 April 20, 1985 Great Western Forum
Los Angeles 		Los Angeles Lakers 147–130 — Phoenix Suns [39]
May 3, 2019 Moda Center
Portland 		Portland Trail Blazers 140–137 4 Denver Nuggets [40]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ It has been the record for 40 years, 114 days.
  2. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Terry Tyler (18), Bill Laimbeer (17), Vinnie Johnson (12).
  3. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Mike Evans (16), Richard Anderson (13), Danny Schayes (11).
  4. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Keegan Murray (15), Harrison Barnes (11), Kevin Huerter (11), Trey Lyles (10).
  5. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Nicolas Batum (19), Russell Westbrook (17), Terance Mann (10), Mason Plumlee (10).
  6. ^ This was the record from March 6, 1982, to December 13, 1983. It lasted for 1 year, 282 days.
  7. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Dave Corzine (19), Johnny Moore (16), Mike Bratz (14).
  8. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Sidney Moncrief (18), Quinn Buckner (18), Marques Johnson (14).
  9. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Kris Dunn (14), Shaquille Harrison (13), Robin Lopez (11), Ryan Arcidiacono (10).
  10. ^ Trae Young's high-scoring game came under his rookie season.
  11. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Taurean Prince (17), Kevin Huerter (15), Dewayne Dedmon (14), Vince Carter (13), DeAndre' Bembry (13).
  12. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Tom Tolbert (18), Rod Higgins (17).
  13. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Todd Lichti (19), Michael Adams (18), T. R. Dunn (12), Jerome Lane (11), Blair Rasmussen (10).
  14. ^ In the fourth quarter, the Spurs scored 53 points and the Nuggets scored 46 points.[22]
  15. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Dan Issel (17), Howard Carter (16), Mike Evans (12), Bill Hanzlik (11), Richard Anderson (10).
  16. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Gene Banks (17), Edgar Jones (17), Artis Gilmore (15), Keith Edmonson (14), Mark McNamara (14).
  17. ^ Kidd recorded 38 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists.
  18. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Boris Diaw (16), Leandro Barbosa (16).
  19. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Marcus Williams (18), Mikki Moore (14), Eddie House (12), Nenad Krstić (10).
  20. ^ Westbrook recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
  21. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Westbrook (17), Danuel House (16), Eric Gordon (15), Austin Rivers (11).
  22. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Isaiah Thomas (17), Troy Brown Jr. (14), Thomas Bryant (13), Moritz Wagner (12).
  23. ^ This was the record from March 2, 1962, to March 6, 1982. It lasted for 20 years, 4 days.
  24. ^ This is Chamberlain's career high. Chamberlain also recorded 25 rebounds.
  25. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Al Attles (17), Paul Arizin (16), Tom Meschery (16), Guy Rodgers (11).
  26. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Dave Budd (13), Donnie Butcher (10).
  27. ^ This tied for the record from March 12, 1970, to March 6, 1982. It lasted for 11 years, 359 days.
  28. ^ Other with double-digit point totals was Wally Anderzunas (12).
  29. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Bingo Smith (16), Stu Lantz (14), Bernie Williams (12), Toby Kimball (11).
  30. ^ In the first half, the Suns scored 107 points and the Nuggets scored 67 points.[22]
  31. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Mark West (16), Jeff Hornacek (12), Eddie Johnson (12).
  32. ^ Other with double-digit point totals was Anthony Cook (13).
  33. ^ It has been the record for 31 years, 330 days.
  34. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Clifford Robinson (16), Kevin Duckworth (14), Buck Williams (11).
  35. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Cedric Ceballos (19), Andrew Lang (13).
  36. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Austin Rivers (18), Aaron Gordon (14).
  37. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Robert Covington (19), CJ McCollum (18), Jusuf Nurkić (13), Norman Powell (13).
  38. ^ This was the record from April 26, 1983, to May 11, 1992. It lasted for 9 years, 15 days.
  39. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Artis Gilmore (13), Edgar Jones (10).
  40. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Billy McKinney (13), Danny Schayes (12), Rob Williams (12).
  41. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Robert Parish (18), Ed Pinckney (16), Larry Bird (15), Dennis Johnson (12), Jim Paxson (11), John Bagley (10).
  42. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Kiki Vandeweghe (13), Charles Oakley (11), Mark Jackson (11).
  43. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Rolando Blackman (18), Derek Harper (18), James Donaldson (15), Sam Perkins (12), Detlef Schrempf (10), Brad Davis (10), Bill Wennington (10).
  44. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Xavier McDaniel (18), Eddie Johnson (14), Kevin Williams (14), Russ Schoene (11).
  45. ^ This was the record from April 1, 1967, to April 26, 1983. It lasted for 16 years, 25 days.
  46. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Jim King (13), Tom Meschery (13), Fred Hetzel (12).
  47. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Zelmo Beaty (19), Joe Caldwell (18).
  48. ^ This was the record from March 25, 1957, to April 1, 1967. It lasted for 10 years, 7 days.
  49. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Ed Macauley (19), Jack McMahon (18), Chuck Share (15).
  50. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Ed Kalafat (17), Vern Mikkelsen (16).
  51. ^ Other with double-digit point totals was Walt Williams (10).
  52. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Doug Christie (18), Mike Bibby (16), Bobby Jackson (16), Keon Clark (12), Jim Jackson (11).
  53. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Magic Johnson (19), James Worthy (15), Michael Cooper (13).
  54. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Maurice Lucas (13), Charles Pittman (12), Charles Jones (12), Rod Foster (10).
  55. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Rodney Hood (19), Enes Kanter (18), Maurice Harkless (15).
  56. ^ Others with double-digit point totals were Paul Millsap (17), Gary Harris (13), Malik Beasley (11).

References[edit]

General

  • Farrell, Erin; Gardella, John (2006). Official NBA Guide 2006–07. Sporting News. p. 223. ISBN 9780892048540.
  • "NBA Highest Scoring Games in the Regular Season - Top 50". LandOfBasketball.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  • "NBA Highest Scoring Games in the Playoffs - Top 50". LandOfBasketball.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.

Specific

  1. ^ "Basketball glossary". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "NBA League Averages". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  3. ^ Goldstein, Richard (December 25, 2004). "In 1954, Shot Clock Revived a Stalled N.B.A." The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 20, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "History of the Shot Clock". NBA.com. October 22, 2001. Archived from the original on 6 December 2001. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e Maxwell, John. "Highest Scoring Game Ever". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  6. ^ Neel, Eric (December 13, 2005). "The big score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  7. ^ "Doug Moe". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  8. ^ "Paul Westhead". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  9. ^ Newman, Bruce (November 7, 1988). "This Joker Is Wild". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  10. ^ Berkow, Ira (November 15, 1990). "The Nutty Numbers for The Nuggets". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  11. ^ "Don Nelson". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  12. ^ Jenkins, Lee (May 13, 2007). "Nellie Ball Energizes Warriors and Confounds Opponents". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  13. ^ Sandomir, Richard (March 1, 2012). "50th Anniversary of a Scoring Feat That's as Much Legend as Record". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  14. ^ Bothamley, Dylan; Levin, Max. "Fastbreaks: Back to the Future". 82games.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  15. ^ Beck, Howard (May 13, 2008). "Want to Play for D'Antoni? Start Running". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  16. ^ Johnson, Roy S. (December 13, 1983). "The Great Denver Shootout". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  17. ^ "Detroit Pistons at Denver Nuggets Box Score, December 13, 1983". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  18. ^ "Kings vs Clippers | NBA Game Summary | February 24, 2023". ESPN.com. February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  19. ^ "Milwaukee Bucks at San Antonio Spurs Box Score, March 6, 1982". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  20. ^ "Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, March 1, 2019". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  21. ^ "Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets Box Score, November 2, 1990". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  22. ^ a b "Regular Season Records: Points". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  23. ^ "San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets Box Score, January 11, 1984". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  24. ^ "Phoenix Suns at New Jersey Nets Box Score, December 7, 2006". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  25. ^ "Wednesday will be a battle of D.C. vs. Houston sports". Archived from the original on 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  26. ^ "Houston Rockets at Washington Wizards Box Score, October 30, 2019". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  27. ^ "Philadelphia Warriors vs New York Knicks Box Score, March 2, 1962". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  28. ^ "San Diego Rockets at Cincinnati Royals Box Score, March 12, 1970". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  29. ^ "Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns Box Score, November 10, 1990". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  30. ^ "Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns Box Score, May 11, 1992". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  31. ^ a b Stapleton, Arnie (June 2, 2021). "Nuggets beat Blazers 147-140 in 2OT, Lillard scores 55". The Associated Press. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  32. ^ "2021 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 5: Portland Trail Blazers at Denver Nuggets Box Score, June 1, 2021". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  33. ^ "Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs Box Score, April 26, 1983". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  34. ^ "New York Knicks at Boston Celtics Box Score, April 28, 1990". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  35. ^ "Seattle SuperSonics at Dallas Mavericks Box Score, April 23, 1987". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  36. ^ "St. Louis Hawks at San Francisco Warriors Box Score, April 1, 1967". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  37. ^ "St. Louis Hawks at Minneapolis Lakers Box Score, March 25, 1957". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  38. ^ "Dallas Mavericks at Sacramento Kings Box Score, May 10, 2003". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  39. ^ "Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, April 20, 1985". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  40. ^ "Denver Nuggets at Portland Trail Blazers Box Score, May 3, 2019". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
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