List of National Basketball Association players with 50 or more points in a playoff game

This is a complete listing of National Basketball Association players who have scored 50 or more points in a playoff game.

It has occurred 33 times in playoff history by 20 different players. Only four players have scored 50 or more points on more than one occasion: Michael Jordan (8 times), Wilt Chamberlain (4 times), Allen Iverson (3 times) and Jerry West (twice).

^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Player's team lost the game
MPMinutes playedFGMField goals madeFGAField goal attempts
FG%Field goal percentage3PM3-point field goals made3PA3-point field goal attempts
3P%3-point field goal percentageFTMFree throws madeFTAFree throw attempts
FT%Free throw percentage
Points Player Team Date Opponent Series Score 1st 2nd 3rd 4th MP FGM FGA 3PM 3PA FTM FTA Notes Ref.
Scoring by quarter
63 Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* Chicago Bulls April 20, 1986 Boston Celtics 1986 Eastern Conference First Round 131–135 17 6 13 18 53 22 41 0 0 19 21 Double overtime. Jordan scored 5 points in the first overtime and 4 in the second overtime.
61 Baylor, ElginElgin Baylor* Los Angeles Lakers April 14, 1962 Boston Celtics 1962 NBA Finals 126–121 18 15 13 15 48 22 46 – – 17 19 NBA Finals single-game record. Most points in a playoff regulation game. 25 field goal attempts in the first half, tying the record.
56 Chamberlain, WiltWilt Chamberlain* Philadelphia Warriors March 22, 1962 Syracuse Nationals 1962 Eastern Division Semifinals 121–104 48 22 48 – – 12 22 Set playoff records for field goal attempts in a game and in a half (25).
56 Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* (2) Chicago Bulls April 29, 1992 Miami Heat 1992 Eastern Conference First Round 119–114 2 17 19 18 43 20 30 0 0 16 18 Miami took an 18 point lead before Jordan scored his first points. Jordan scored 54 points in the final three quarters.
56 Barkley, CharlesCharles Barkley* Phoenix Suns May 4, 1994 Golden State Warriors 1994 Western Conference First Round 140–133 27 11 41 23 31 3 4 7 9 Barkley's first quarter line: 11–11 fg, 3–3 3pt, 2–2 ft. 15 field goals made in the first half. Barkley scored his team's first 12 points.
55 Barry, RickRick Barry* San Francisco Warriors April 18, 1967 Philadelphia 76ers 1967 NBA Finals 130–124 22 48 – – 11 19 Set playoff single-game record for field goal attempts. 24 field goal attempts in each half.
55 Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* (3) Chicago Bulls May 1, 1988 Cleveland Cavaliers 1988 Eastern Conference First Round 106–101 12 16 15 12 44 24 45 0 0 7 7 Tied playoff single-game record for field goals made. 25 field goal attempts in the first half, tying the playoff record. 14 field goals made in the first half.
55 Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* (4) Chicago Bulls June 16, 1993 Phoenix Suns 1993 NBA Finals 111–105 11 22 10 12 46 21 37 0 1 13 18 14 field goals made in the first half, tying the NBA Finals record.
55 Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* (5) Chicago Bulls April 27, 1997 Washington Bullets 1997 Eastern Conference First Round 109–104 44:13 22 35 1 2 10 10
55 Iverson, AllenAllen Iverson Philadelphia 76ers April 20, 2003 New Orleans Hornets 2003 Eastern Conference First Round 98–90 46:40 21 32 3 5 10 11
54 Havlicek, JohnJohn Havlicek* Boston Celtics April 1, 1973 Atlanta Hawks 1973 Eastern Conference Semifinals 134–109 48 24 36 – – 6 6 Tied playoff single-game record for field goals made. 14 field goals made in the first half.
54 Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* (6) Chicago Bulls May 31, 1993 New York Knicks 1993 Eastern Conference Finals 105–95 17 10 18 9 39 18 30 6 9 12 14
54 Iverson, AllenAllen Iverson (2) Philadelphia 76ers May 9, 2001 Toronto Raptors 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals 97–92 47:46 21 39 3 5 9 9
53 Chamberlain, WiltWilt Chamberlain* (2) Philadelphia Warriors March 14, 1960 Syracuse Nationals 1960 Eastern Division Semifinals 132–112 47 24 42 – – 5 16 Set playoff single-game record for field goals made.
53 West, JerryJerry West* Los Angeles Lakers April 23, 1969 Boston Celtics 1969 NBA Finals 120–118 21 41 – – 11 13 West made two free throws with four seconds remaining in the game to secure the win.
52 West, JerryJerry West* (2) Los Angeles Lakers April 5, 1965 Baltimore Bullets 1965 Western Division Finals 118–115 16 38 – – 20 21 32 points in the second half. Missed his first free throw in the game, then made 20 in a row. West scored four points in the game's final 23 seconds to secure a come-from-behind win. 14 free throws made in a half, a playoff record at the time.
52 Iverson, AllenAllen Iverson (3) Philadelphia 76ers May 16, 2001 Toronto Raptors 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals 121–88 43:29 21 32 8 14 2 2
51 Jones, SamSam Jones* Boston Celtics March 28, 1967 New York Knicks 1967 Eastern Division Semifinals 118–109 43 19 30 – – 13 17
51 Floyd, Eric "Sleepy"Eric "Sleepy" Floyd Golden State Warriors May 10, 1987 Los Angeles Lakers 1987 Western Conference Semifinals 129–121 10 29 44 18 26 2 3 13 14 39 points in the second half, and 29 points in the fourth quarter, both playoff records. Also set a playoff record with 12 field goals made (consecutively) in the fourth quarter. 15 field goals made in the second half.
51 Allen, RayRay Allen^ Boston Celtics April 30, 2009 Chicago Bulls 2009 Eastern Conference First Round 127–128 58:45 18 32 9 18 6 7 Triple overtime. Tied playoff single-game record for three-point field goals made. Set playoff single-game record for three-point field goal attempts.
50 Cousy, BobBob Cousy* Boston Celtics March 21, 1953 Syracuse Nationals 1953 Eastern Division Semifinals 111–105 66 10 22 – – 30 32 Quadruple overtime. Set playoff single-game record for free throws made. Free throw attempts were also a playoff record at the time.
50 Pettit, BobBob Pettit* St. Louis Hawks April 12, 1958 Boston Celtics 1958 NBA Finals 110–109 19 19 34 – – 12 15 Scored 11 straight points in the fourth quarter.
50 Chamberlain, WiltWilt Chamberlain* (3) Philadelphia Warriors March 22, 1960 Boston Celtics 1960 Eastern Division Finals 128–107 45 22 42 – – 6 18
50 Chamberlain, WiltWilt Chamberlain* (4) San Francisco Warriors April 10, 1964 St. Louis Hawks 1964 Western Division Finals 121–97 22 32 – – 6 10
50 Cunningham, BillyBilly Cunningham* Philadelphia 76ers April 1, 1970 Milwaukee Bucks 1970 Eastern Division Semifinals 111–118 48 22 39 – – 6 8
50 McAdoo, BobBob McAdoo* Buffalo Braves April 18, 1975 Washington Bullets 1975 Eastern Conference Semifinals 108–102 15 15 45 20 32 – – 10 14
50 Wilkins, DominiqueDominique Wilkins* Atlanta Hawks April 19, 1986 Detroit Pistons 1986 Eastern Conference First Round 137–125 33 19 28 0 0 12 15
50 Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* (7) Chicago Bulls April 28, 1988 Cleveland Cavaliers 1988 Eastern Conference First Round 104–93 9 20 44 19 35 0 0 12 12 13 field goals made in the first half. The first of back-to-back games of 50+ points; Jordan is the only player in history to record consecutive 50 point games in the playoffs.
50 Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* (8) Chicago Bulls May 5, 1989 Cleveland Cavaliers 1989 Eastern Conference First Round 105–108 19 10 43 14 28 0 1 22 27 Overtime. 19 points in the first half, 29 points in the second half, 2 points in overtime. 16 free throw attempts in the first half, a playoff record at the time.
50 Malone, KarlKarl Malone* Utah Jazz April 22, 2000 Seattle SuperSonics 2000 Western Conference First Round 104–93 43:16 18 32 1 1 13 14 Oldest player (36 years, 273 days) to score 50 points in a playoff game.
50 Carter, VinceVince Carter^ Toronto Raptors May 11, 2001 Philadelphia 76ers 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals 102–78 15 19 44:44 19 29 9 13 3 3 Tied playoff single-game record for three-point field goals made. Set a playoff record with eight three-pointers in the first half.
50 Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant^ Los Angeles Lakers May 4, 2006 Phoenix Suns 2006 Western Conference First Round 118–126 52:06 20 35 5 8 5 6 Scored 12 out of the Lakers' 13 in overtime. 38 before OT.
50 Nowitzki, DirkDirk Nowitzki^ Dallas Mavericks June 1, 2006 Phoenix Suns 2006 Western Conference Finals 117–101 43:29 14 26 5 6 17 18

See also