Certain moments in the NBA are indelibly marked on history. These are the moments when a player shows his skills and determination in performance to establish himself as the best in the league. High-scoring games are included in those standout performances. Let’s explore the active NBA players with the most points scored in a single game.
One of the greatest scorers in NBA history, Michael Jordan, scored 69 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1990, which is his highest single-game scoring performance. The all-time leading point-scorer in the NBA, LeBron James, has just one 60-point game in his career, scoring 61 points against the Charlotte Bobcats in 2014.
What’s The NBA Record For The Highest Points Scored In A Game? 
Legendary center Wilt Chamberlain played 14 seasons in the NBA from 1959-73. In 1,045 regular-season games, Wilt scored 31,419 points, ranking seventh on the all-time scoring leaders list. The former San Francisco Warriors center has the NBA record for the most points scored in a game, scoring 100 against the New York Knicks in 1961-62. While he is the only player with multiple 70-point games, Wilt leads the NBA in the most 60+ and 50+ point games.
Most Points Scored In A Regular Season Game
Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game is the highest-scoring regular season game in NBA history, followed by late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.
Here are the top 10 NBA players with the most points in a regular-season game:
- Wilt Chamberlain (1962): 100 points
- Kobe Bryant (2006): 81 points
- Wilt Chamberlain (1961): 78 points
- Wilt Chamberlain (1962): 73 points
- Wilt Chamberlain (1962): 73 points
- David Thompson (1978): 73 points
- Luka Doncic (2024): 73 points
- Wilt Chamberlain (1962): 72 points
- Elgin Baylor (1960): 71 points
- David Robinson (1994): 71 points
Most Points Scored In A Post Season Game
Wilt Chamberlain (1962): 100 points Kobe Bryant (2006): 81 points Wilt Chamberlain (1961): 78 points Wilt Chamberlain (1962): 73 points Wilt Chamberlain (1962): 73 points David Thompson (1978): 73 points Luka Doncic (2024): 73 points Wilt Chamberlain (1962): 72 points Elgin Baylor (1960): 71 points David Robinson (1994): 71 points Most Points Scored In A Post Season Game
While Wilt Chamberlain leads the list of the most high-scoring regular season games, the six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan is the highest-scoring player in an NBA Playoff game.
Here are the top 10 NBA players with the most points in a post-season game:
- Michael Jordan (1986): 63 points
- Elgin Baylor (1962): 61 points
- Donovan Mitchell (2020): 57 points
- Wilt Chamberlain (1962): 56 points
- Michael Jordan (1992): 56 points
- Charles Barkley (1994): 56 points
- Jimmy Butler (2023): 56 points
- Rick Barry (1967): 55 points
- Michael Jordan (1988): 55 points
- Michael Jordan (1993): 55 points
Top 5 Active Players With The Most Points Scored In An NBA Game
Last season, Dallas Mavericks star guard Luka Doncic had a historic outing against the Atlanta Hawks. On January 26, the 25-year-old Slovenian erupted for 73 points at the State Farm Arena, becoming the active NBA player with the most points in a regular season game.
Here are the top five active NBA players with the most points in a regular-season game:
- Luka Doncic (2024): 73 points
- Donovan Mitchell (2023): 71 points
- Damian Lillard (2023): 71 points
- Devin Booker (2017): 70 points
- Joel Embiid (2024): 70 points
Active Players With The Most Points Scored In A Playoffs Game
While Luka Doncic has the fourth-highest-scoring game in NBA history with 73 points, Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell is the active NBA player with the most points in a post-season game. With 57 points in 2020, Mitchell managed to get third place in the all-time high-scoring playoff games ranking.
Following the Cavaliers guard, Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler scored 56 points in 2023, and Damian Lillard scored 55 in 2021 to make the top three active players with the most points in a playoff game. It can be confidently stated that Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan ruled the regular season and playoff high-scoring games.
