Highest-Scoring Single Games By Tiers: Wilt's 100-Point Game Is Still At The Top Of The Pyramid

highest-scoring single games by tiers: wilt's 100-point game is still at the top of the pyramid

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In the annals of NBA history, certain performances stand out as legendary feats of athletic prowess and skill. Among these, Wilt Chamberlain’s iconic 100-point game remains a towering achievement, seemingly untouched by the passage of time. As basketball has evolved over the decades, players have continually pushed the boundaries of scoring, especially this season.

This article delves into the highest-scoring games by tiers, highlighting some NBA superstars’ unparalleled accomplishments and examining how it continues to define excellence in the realm of basketball scoring. Even if Wilt Chamberlain’s record remains untouched for now, there have been some performances this season that have raised a ton of eyebrows. Here are all the highest-scoring games by tiers with a minimum of 61 points scored in a single game.

100 Points

Wilt Chamberlain (100 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game on March 2, 1962, stands as a monumental achievement in basketball history, showcasing his unparalleled dominance and skill on the court. In a single game for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks, Chamberlain shattered expectations by scoring an astonishing 100 points, a feat that remains unmatched to this day.

To grasp the enormity of this accomplishment, consider that Chamberlain essentially matched or exceeded the typical combined scoring output of both teams in an average NBA game, showcasing his sheer dominance. His performance, which included 36 field goals and 28 free throws in an era before the three-point line existed, highlighted not just his scoring ability but also his exceptional athleticism and determination. Amazingly, Wilt averaged 50.4 points per game at the end of the season.

81-99 Points

Kobe Bryant (81 Points)

Kobe Bryant’s unforgettable 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006, is etched in basketball lore as one of the most remarkable individual displays of scoring prowess. Taking the court for the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant delivered a masterclass in offensive dominance, showcasing his unparalleled skill set and sheer determination to lead his team to victory.

Surpassing the 80-point mark in a single game, Bryant’s performance stands as the second highest-scoring output in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s iconic 100-point game. Throughout the game, Bryant displayed his trademark versatility, sinking shots from all over the court with precision and confidence. He was also somehow extremely efficient by going 28-46 from the field including 7-13 from three and 18-20 from the free-throw line.

71-80 Points

Wilt Chamberlain (78 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (73 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (73 Points)

David Thompson (73 Points)

Luka Doncic (73 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (72 Points)

Elgin Baylor (71 Points)

David Robinson (71 Points)

Donovan Mitchell (71 Points)

Damian Lillard (71 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain’s 78-point game, achieved on December 8, 1961, remains a testament to his unparalleled dominance on the basketball court. Playing for the Philadelphia Warriors against the Los Angeles Lakers, Chamberlain showcased his scoring prowess, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest players in NBA history. As if that wasn’t enough, Wilt managed to pull down 43 rebounds in the game and also went 31-62 from the field and 16-31 from the free-throw line.

In another impressive display of scoring prowess, Wilt Chamberlain notched 73 points on January 13, 1962, against the Chicago Packers. This remarkable performance highlighted Chamberlain’s ability to utterly dominate opponents, as he relentlessly attacked the basket and converted scoring opportunities with unparalleled efficiency. Wilt had another 73-point performance in the same season against the Knicks.

David Thompson’s 73-point explosion against the Detroit Pistons on April 9, 1978, remains a defining moment in his career and a testament to his offensive brilliance. As a member of the Denver Nuggets, Thompson showcased his scoring prowess in dramatic fashion, thrilling fans with his electrifying play and uncanny ability to find the bottom of the net at an incredible 73.7% efficiency. Thompson’s 73-point outburst solidified his reputation as one of the most dynamic scorers of his era, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the game.

Luka Doncic’s 73-point game achieved this season against the Atlanta Hawks marked a career-high for the young superstar and showcased his extraordinary talent on the offensive end of the court. Doncic’s scoring outburst was a testament to his versatility and ability to impact the game in multiple ways, and his mark is tied for third-highest ever with only Chamberlain and Bryant putting up more points in a single game.

Wilt Chamberlain’s 72-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 3, 1962, further solidified his status as one of the most dominant scorers in NBA history. Chamberlain’s ability to consistently put up such staggering numbers is a testament to his unparalleled skill and athleticism, setting a standard that few have come close to matching.

Elgin Baylor’s 71-point game against the New York Knicks on November 15, 1960, remains a shining moment in his illustrious Hall of Fame career. Baylor’s scoring outburst showcased his remarkable skill and versatility on the offensive end of the court, as he dazzled fans with his array of moves and ability to score from anywhere on the floor including going 15-19 from the free-throw line.

David Robinson’s 71-point game against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 24, 1994, was a defining moment in his illustrious career and a testament to his scoring prowess. The superstar center managed to break the Spurs’ franchise record for most points in a single game, and he did it at an incredibly efficient rate, considering the Clippers’ defense was out to stop him.

Donovan Mitchell’s 71-point game against the Chicago Bulls showcased his scoring prowess and ability to take over a game as he hit the highest mark by a player in 17 years at the time. Mitchell’s explosive performance highlighted his versatility as a scorer, as he showcased his ability to score from all three levels and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates in an overtime victory.

Damian Lillard’s 71-point game in February 2023 against the Houston Rockets was a masterclass in scoring efficiency and clutch play. Lillard’s scoring outburst showcased his ability to take over a game and carry his team to victory, as he knocked down shots from all over the court and delivered in the most critical moments. Making a ridiculous 13 three-point shots, we got to see just how great Dame Time can be when he wants to score at will.

65-70 Points

Wilt Chamberlain (70 Points)

Devin Booker (70 Points)

Joel Embiid (70 Points)

Michael Jordan (69 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (68 Points)

Pete Maravich (68 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (67 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (67 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (67 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (67 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (66 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (65 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (65 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (65 Points)

Kobe Bryant (65 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain’s historic 70-point game, achieved on March 10, 1963, remains one of the most iconic performances in NBA history, showcasing his unparalleled dominance on the court as he had 27-38 shooting from the field in his 4th NBA season. Guess what? Wilt Chamberlain will appear on more tiers by the time we are done reviewing history.

Devin Booker’s 70-point explosion against the Boston Celtics on March 24, 2017, marked him as one of the league’s brightest young stars, demonstrating his scoring prowess and ability to take over a game. This had to be one of the most impressive performances ever as Booker went off for 70 points on 21-40 shooting at only 20 years old.

Joel Embiid’s 70-point outing this year against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs solidified his status as one of the most dominant big men in the modern era, combining size, skill, and intensity to overpower opponents. He was 24 of 41 from the field, including 1 of 2 from 3-point range, and made 21 of 23 free throws.

In one of his eight seasons putting up over 30 PPG, Michael Jordan dropped 69 points on 62.2% shooting from the field in 1990. This was the same season that MJ came close to winning his first NBA championship, but he ran into the “Bad Boy” Pistons. Still, Jordan averaged 32.5 PPG during the year and was the undisputed best player in the world at the time.

Wilt Chamberlain appears again. He dropped 68 points against the Chicago Bulls when he was a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, going 30-40 from the field and only 8-22 from the line. Had he made more free throws, Chamberlain could have easily eclipsed 70 points but that is why Mother Nature exists, to prevent perfection from occurring.

Superstar guard Pete Maravich was on fire on Feb. 25, 1977, scoring 68 points in a 124-107 Jazz victory over the New York Knicks. The late Hall of Famer shot 26-43 from the field overall and went 16-for-18 on free throws before the 3-point line was even invented.

Wilt also managed 67 points four times, including an outing against the New York Knicks, as a member of the Philadelphia Warriors. The center went 27-37 from the field and 13-17 from the foul line, exceptional numbers from a player who simply could not make foul shots consistently. When he did, he put up historical performances and he also managed three other instances of scoring 73 points in a single game (1962 and 1963). Wilt’s 1962 season is simply the greatest ever from a statistical standpoint.

The only 66-point game in NBA history belongs to Wilt Chamberlain, and he did it in a 134-116 blowout win against the Phoenix Suns. The center played in all 48 minutes, going 29-35 from the field and 8-18 from the foul line.

More about Wilt Chamberlain, the center scored 65 points on three different occasions: against the Cincinnati Royals in 1962, the St. Louis Hawks in 1962, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1966. There is really no need to go on about how dominant Wilt was because opponents simply had no answer for him in his prime.

Kobe Bryant’s 65-point masterpiece against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 16, 2007, further solidified his status as one of the most lethal scorers in NBA history. The superstar shooting guard led the Lakers to a 116-111 victory on March 16, 2007, scoring 24 of his 65 points in the fourth quarter and nine more in overtime. In typical Black Mamba fashion, he wanted to end the opponent in crunch time.

61-64 Points

Elgin Baylor (64 Points)

Rick Barry (64 Points)

Michael Jordan (64 Points)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (64 Points)

Joe Fulks (63 Points)

Elgin Baylor (63 Points)

Jerry West (63 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (63 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (63 Points)

George Gervin (63 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (62 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (62 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (62 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (62 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (62 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (62 Points)

Tracy McGrady (62 Points)

Kobe Bryant (62 Points)

Carmelo Anthony (62 Points)

Stephen Curry (62 Points)

Karl-Anthony Towns (62 Points)

Devin Booker (62 Points)

George Mikan (61 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (61 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (61 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (61 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (61 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (61 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain (61 Points)

Michael Jordan (61 Points)

Michael Jordan (61 Points)

Karl Malone (61 Points)

Shaquille O’Neal (61 Points)

Kobe Bryant (61 Points)

LeBron James (61 Points)

James Harden (61 Points)

James Harden (61 Points)

Damian Lillard (61 Points)

Damian Lillard (61 Points)

The late and great Elgin Baylor managed to drop 64 points in spectacular fashion against the Boston Celtics in a regular-season game in 1959. The superstar forward was exceptional on the court, going 25-47 from the field which was good for 53.2% shooting. Amazingly, that marked the second-highest-scoring game from the legendary Laker.

Rick Barry did not have the best season in his career in terms of team success during the 1974 season, and he seemingly took out all his frustrations on the Portland Trail Blazers on March 26th. The superstar scorer went ballistic to score 64 points including a 45-point second half. Unsurprisingly, the Warriors won the game 143-120.

In typical Michael Jordan fashion, a 64-point performance was shrugged off because a win did not occur. The superstar shooting guard went ballistic on the Orlando Magic on January 16, 1993, scoring 64 points on a rookie Shaquille O’Neal and the rest of his teammates. Jordan went 27-49 from the field and usurped what Shaq did on the other end (29 points, 24 rebounds).

Giannis Antetokounmpo is another modern player who appears among the best scorers ever, dropping a career-high 64 points on 20-28 from the field and 24-32 from the free-throw line. It made it even more memorable when The Greek Freak had a meltdown when the Indiana Pacers players refused to give him the game ball, for whatever reason.

Joe Fulks, a 6’5” forward, set a new professional scoring record with 63 points in the Philadelphia Warriors’ 108-87 victory over the Indianapolis Jets way back in 1949. In the third quarter, Fulks managed to break George Mikan’s then-record of 48 points, which the superstar center set less than two weeks prior. After hoisting up 56 field-goal attempts, Fulks managed to make 27 of them which constituted around 48% shooting.

Baylor’s third-highest-scoring performance came in 1961 when he led the Los Angeles Lakers to battle against the Philadelphia Warriors led by superstar Wilt Chamberlain. Wilt dropped 78 points in that game, which set the record for most combined points by two players in the same game (along with Baylor’s 63 points). Wilt Chamberlain is usually involved in most records when it comes to scoring, anyway.

The Logo, Jerry West, scored 63 points against the Knicks on January 17, 1962, securing an eight-point victory for him and the Lakers. After a strong rookie campaign, West accomplished the feat at the age of 23 in his sophomore season in the league. His great performance that night would go on to be the best of his career, as it would be his sole 60-point performance.

At the time of the 1962 season, Chamberlain was competing for the San Francisco Warriors and dropped an incredible 63 points on 58.5% shooting from the field. Using his size and athleticism, he tore apart the Lakers’ defense and even shot 75.0% from the free-throw line. The center found his groove around the rim, destroying defenses with his power and adding to his points total which sat at 50.4 PPG at the end of the year.

Yet again, Wilt appears in this Tier with a monster 63-point showing against the Philadelphia 76ers, terrorizing them with his raw size and power. The superstar center went 27-58 from the field and 9-20 from the free-throw line, using his athleticism and power to his advantage. Standing over 7 feet tall, there was no answer for him.

George “Iceman” Gervin was the old-school version of Kevin Durant because he had a mix of elite skill and athleticism to go along with tremendous length. Standing 6’7” and weighing 180 lbs, Gervin was unstoppable when he got into a rhythm from mid-range and around the basket. On April 9, 1978, Gervin tore apart the Jazz defense.

Wilt Chamberlain’s multiple appearances with 62 and 61-point games underscore his unrivaled dominance, showcasing an era where he reigned supreme as the ultimate scoring force. Wilt had six instances dropping 62 points and six instances dropping 61 points. It is truly amazing that Chamberlain never finished as the NBA’s highest scorer ever, as he is “only” seventh all-time with 31,419 total career points.

Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant’s inclusion further emphasizes their status as elite scorers, capable of erupting for massive point totals in any given game. T-Mac had his 62-point game in a victory against the Washington Wizards when he was a member of the Orlando Magic while Bryant’s 62 points came in a win against the Dallas Mavericks when he outscored the entire opposition in only three quarters.

Carmelo Anthony also had a 62-point game, destroying the lowly Charlotte Bobcats and hilariously recording zero assists. Do you miss Carmelo Anthony on the basketball court as much as we do?

Stephen Curry, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Devin Booker also each dropped 62 points in a single game. Curry went 8-16 from three in his career-high performance in 2021 against the Portland Trail Blazers, Towns dropped 62 points this year against the Charlotte Hornets, and Booker had 62 against the Pacers this year on 6-12 from three-point land.

George Mikan, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, James Harden, and Damian Lillard also join Wilt Chamberlain in the elusive 61-point club. LeBron managed his career-high against the Charlotte Bobcats in 2013-14, and never cracked 60 points again in his career. James Harden had 61 points both coming in the 2018-19 seasons, and Lillard had his two 61-point performances against solid opposition: the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks in the 2020 calendar year.

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