For the second time this season, an NBA player has scored 71 points. First, it was Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, whose 71-point outburst in January marked the most efficient game of 70 points or more in NBA history.
That fact can be measured based on true shooting percentage, an advanced metric that captures the efficiency of shots taken by a player while also accounting for a player’s performance at the free throw line.
Mitchell’s historic night was accomplished on 78.9% true shooting.
What was a historically great performance by Mitchell was somehow topped Sunday night by Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard. Mitchell’s “most efficient” scoring performance lasted a month.
Lillard scored 71 points in 39 minutes in Sunday’s win over the Rockets, hitting 13 three-pointers on 80.4% true shooting, to supplant Mitchell’s feat as the most efficient 70-plus-point game in league history.
Records are meant to be broken, and Lillard and Mitchell have set the bar for most points in a game so far this season.
But with Lillard now adding his 71-point outing to the list, it begs the question. Where does his scoring outburst, along with Mitchell’s, rank on the all-time list?
Let’s dive into it.
Highest-Scoring Games in NBA History
1. Wilt Chamberlain - 100 points - Philadelphia Warriors on March 2, 1962
The lone 100-point game in NBA history is the gold standard and may never be seen again. Chamberlain’s historic 100-point, 25-rebound performance against the Knicks included 36-for-63 shooting from the floor (57.1%) and a 28-for-32 effort from the free throw line (87.5%). This is the high water mark and perhaps one record that may never be broken.
2. Kobe Bryant - 81 points - Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 22, 2006
The modern NBA game only has seen one player come close to Chamberlain’s 100-point game, and that’s the late great Kobe Bryant. Bryant scored 81 points on 28-for-46 shooting from the floor (60.9%). He also hit seven threes and made 18 of his 20 free throws in an 18-point win over Toronto.
3. Wilt Chamberlain - 78 points - Philadelphia Warriors on Dec. 8, 1961
We probably should have mentioned this to begin, but there will be many Chamberlain games on this list, which is a testament to his dominance. Three months before his 100-point game, he set an NBA record of 78 points in a loss to the Lakers. Imagine scoring 78 points and losing!
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T-4. David Thompson - 73 points - Denver Nuggets on April 9, 1978
In perhaps the most notable performance of his Hall of Fame career, Thompson scored 73 points and added seven rebounds in a loss to the Pistons in 1978. Thompson was remarkably efficient, scoring on 28 of his 38 shot attempts, while making 17 of 20 free throws. No other player on his team scored more than 14 points.
T-4. Wilt Chamberlain - 73 points - San Francisco Warriors on Nov. 16, 1962
Chamberlain went 29 of 43 from the field and 15 of 19 from the line while pulling in 14 rebounds in a 16-point win over the Knicks. It was one of several outstanding performances for Chamberlain against New York in his storied career.
T-4. Wilt Chamberlain - 73 points - Philadelphia Warriors on Jan. 13, 1962
This feat could have ended up even higher on the list if Chamberlain performed better at the foul line. He converted on a respectable 29 of his 48 shot attempts but made just 15 of his 25 free throws, which was uncharacteristically poor for him from the charity stripe. He did pull down 36 rebounds though in the blowout win over the Chicago Packers, forerunners of today’s Wizards franchise.
7. Wilt Chamberlain - 72 points - San Francisco Warriors on Nov. 3, 1962
Chamberlain had two 70-plus-point games in a span of 13 days with the Warriors. This outing included 72 points as the Big Dipper shot 29 of 48 from the floor and 14 of 18 from the free throw line. He also grabbed 18 rebounds in a losing effort to the Lakers.
T-8. Damian Lillard - 71 points - Portland Trail Blazers on Feb. 26, 2023
Lillard ties for eighth on the all-time list with his 71-point game, which included 13 three-pointers in a win over the Rockets. Lillard’s historic night is the most efficient game on this list as well, with his 80.4% true shooting mark. Lillard, 32, is the only player to score at least 70 points in an NBA game at age 30 or older.
T-8. Donovan Mitchell - 71 points - Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 2, 2023
Mitchell shot 22-for-34 shooting with seven three-pointers and 20 made free throws. The Cavs star also dished out 11 assists and grabbed eight rebounds in the 145–134 overtime win over the Bulls.
T-8. David Robinson - 71 points - San Antonio Spurs on April 24, 1994
The Admiral clinched the 1993-94 scoring title with this late-April outburst against the Clippers. Robinson made 26 of his 41 shots from the floor and 18 of his 25 attempts from the free throw line, while grabbing 14 rebounds in the win.
T-8. Elgin Baylor - 71 points - Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 15, 1960
If you wanted to have a historic scoring game in the ’60s, the recipe apparently was to play the Knicks, who were a common opponent in several games on this list. Baylor converted 28 of his 48 shots from the field and 15 of his 19 free throw attempts. He also grabbed 25 rebounds in the victory.
12. Devin Booker - 70 points - Phoenix Suns on March 24, 2017
Booker, one of the top scorers in today’s NBA, scored 70 points on 21-40 shooting from the floor and just 4-11 from three. However, he hit 24 of his 26 free throw attempts and grabbed eight rebounds while dishing out six assists. The Suns lost in Boston to the Celtics by double digits.
T-12. Wilt Chamberlain - 70 points - San Francisco Warriors on March 10, 1963
Chamberlain registered the last of his six 70-point games against the Syracuse Nationals, who later became the Philadelphia 76ers. Chamberlain converted on 27 of his 38 shot attempts and made 16 of his 22 free throws. He also pulled down 18 rebounds, but the Warriors lost by 15.
14. Michael Jordan - 69 points - Chicago Bulls on March 28, 1990
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but he never recorded a 70-point game. Jordan’s highest career scoring total came on 23-for-37 shooting with a 21-for-23 performance from the free throw line. MJ also grabbed 18 rebounds, dished out six assists and added four steals in the win against the Cavaliers.
T-15. Pete Maravich - 68 points - New Orleans Jazz on Feb. 25, 1977
Pistol Pete’s highest scoring performance came against the Knicks at the Superdome in New Orleans. Maravich made 26 of 43 shots from the floor and 16 of 19 free throws. He added six assists and six rebounds to his historic performance.
T-15 Wilt Chamberlain - 68 points - Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 16, 1967
After several successful years with the Warriors, Chamberlain joined returned to his hometown with the 76ers and contributed another one of his all-time scoring performances late in 1967. He scored 68 points while making 30 of his 40 shot attempts from the field against the Bulls, who were beginning their second season in the NBA. Chamberlain also pulled down 34 rebounds. This could have been one of his best performances ever if not for an 8-of-22 performance from the free throw line.
