In the 2020-21 playoffs, Lillard scored 55 points in Game 5 of the first round, not only breaking Thompson's record for the most three-pointers in a single playoff game set by Thompson in Game 6 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals, but also breaking the record for most three-pointers in a single playoff game. The 55 points also set a personal playoff single-game scoring record. And 55 points in a single game in the playoffs can also rank among the top 10 points in a single game in the NBA's historical playoffs.
Let’s review the NBA playoff single-game scoring list. Which basketball greats does Lillard compare to in this battle?
The legendary assist king dominates the list! Top 10 NBA single-game assists records
The god of ball control competes for hegemony! Top 10 records in NBA playoff assists
Table of Contents
Michael Jordan 55 points
- season:1996-97 R1G2
- result:Bull 109-104 Bullet
- data:55 points, 2 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
In the 1996-97 season, the Bulls and Washington Bullets met in the first round of the playoffs, and the two sides played a best-of-five series. At the time, Washington Bullets head coach Chris Webber recalled that Jordan came to the Bullets locker room with a lit cigar in his mouth before the game and said: "Who's going to guard me tonight?"
Jordanu was 33 years old at the time. He used his mid-range skills as his main weapon throughout the night. 10 of his points came from free throws, and the other 42 points came from mid-range or layups. Jordan scored 23 points from the Bulls in the fourth quarter. of 20 points. His shooting percentage is an exaggerated 45%, but he is very efficient and only needs 35 shots to score 55 points. It took the rest of the Bulls 43 shots to score 54 points. In the end, the Bulls swept the Bullets 3-0.
Michael Jordan 55 points
- season: 1992-93 Final G4
- result:Bulls 111-105 Suns
- data:55 points, 4 assists, 8 rebounds
In the fourth game of the championship game between the Bulls and the Suns, the "God of Basketball" Michael Jordan and the "Flying Pig" Charles Barkley staged a peak showdown. In the 1992-93 season, Charles Barkley led the Suns to the league's best record of 62 wins and 20 losses, preparing to fight for the first championship in his career.
The Bulls, who led the series 2-1, were playing at home. Barkley was full of firepower and scored 32 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, and 1 hot pot. However, Jordan's performance was even stronger, scoring 55 points in a single game, which also shattered Barkley's best chance at the title.
Rick Barry 55 points
- season: 1966-68 Final G3
- result:Warriors 130-124 Sixers
- data:55 points, 5 assists, 12 rebounds
Allen Iverson 55 points
- season:2002-03 R1G1
- result:Sixers 98-90 Hornets
- data:55 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds
Damian Lillard 55 points
- season:2020-21 R1G5
- result:Pioneer 140-147 Gold Nugget (2OT)
- data:55 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 12 three-pointers
The Trail Blazers and the Golden Nuggets were tied 2-2 in the first four games. In the crucial fifth game, the Trail Blazers fell behind due to the performance of Nikola Jokic and many wings. Nikola Jokic made a key shot at the end of the fourth quarter to take the lead, and then made two free throws to widen the gap to 4 points. The Trail Blazers, who were trailing by 3 points with 3.7 seconds before the end, executed the last shot, and Damian Lillard made a tying shot. 3 points,
Then in the last 8.2 seconds of the first overtime, Damian Lillard faced Shaquille Harrison's defense and turned around and hit a three-pointer to tie the score. However, the second time the OT Nuggets kept double-teaming Lillard, and his teammates gave up and made mistakes one after another at critical moments, which only made Lillard lose the right to win and continue to advance.
Wilt Chamberlain 56 points
- season:1961-62 R1G5
- result:Warriors 121-104 Sixers
- data:56 points, 35 rebounds
Michael Jordan 56 points
- season:1991-92 R1G3
- result:Bulls 119-114 Heat
- data:56 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks
Charles Barkley 56 points
- season:1993-94 R1G3
- result:Suns 140-133 Warriors
- data:56 points, 4 assists, 14 rebounds, 3 steals, FG 74.1% (23-31)
Jimmy Butler 56 points
- Season:2022-23 (G4 in the first round of the playoffs)
- result:Heat 119-114 Bucks
- data:56 points, 9 rebounds, FG 19-28
Donovan Mitchell 57 points
- season:2019-20 R1G1
- result:Jazz 125-135 Gold Nugget
- data:57 points, 7 assists, 9 rebounds, FG 56.3% (19-33)
Elgin Baylor 61 points
- Season:1961-62 Final G5
- result:Lakers 126-121 Celtics (OT)
- data:61 points, 22 rebounds
Michael Jordan 63 points
- Season:1986-87 R1G2
- result:Bulls 131-135 Celtics (OT)
- data:63 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, 3 steals
