Edwin Kiplagat
updated at April 25, 2023 at 9:11 AM
- Jimmy Butler 56-point masterclass lifted the Miami Heat over the Milwaukee Bucks
- It was his first 50-point game in the playoffs and the highest in Heat's playoff history
- Sports Brief has looked at players with the most 50-point games in the NBA playoffs
Miami Heat star, Jimmy Butler produced one of the best performances in NBA playoff history after scoring 56 points against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4.
'Playoff Jimmy' was on display as he delivered a masterclass to help the Heat win 119-114 and get a 3-1 series lead. It was Butler's first 50-point game, but several players have had 50+ plus points in NBA playoff history.
Source: Getty Images
Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Donovan Mitchell, Allen Iverson, and Jamal Murray have all had multiple playoff games.
Sports Brief looks at who has the most 50+ points in NBA playoff history.
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NBAMost 50-pointers in playoff history
Butler was on fire against the Bucks, who had their superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo back after he recovered from a lower back contusion.
The 33-year-old finished with 56 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one block, shooting 19-of-28 from the field, per the Athletic. It was the first 50-point game in the first round this season since 2021.
He has now surpassed LeBron James’ record for the Heat of 49 playoff points, set in 2014 against the Brooklyn Nets.
Last season, there were three 50-point games. Jayson Tatum went for 50 to lift the Boston Celtics to their only win in a first-round series with the Brooklyn Nets, while Damian Lillard went for 55 points in a Portland Trail Blazers overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets in the first round, per Sporting News.
LeBron James breaks down entire Grizzlies line-up ahead of playoff matchup with Lakers
NBAMost points in a playoff game
Ranking | Player | Total Number of 50-point games |
1 | Michael Jordan | 8 |
2 | Wilt Chamberlain | 4 |
3 | Allen Iverson | 3 |
4 | Jamal Murray | 2 |
5 | Donovan Mitchell | 2 |
6 | Damian Lillard | 2 |
7 | Jerry West | 2 |
8 | 19 players tied | 1 |
Jordan is the king of playoff performances. He has twice as many as the next player and his record will surely stand for many more years to come.
Jordan's 50-point games
The Chicago Bulls icon scored the most points in a playoff game (63) in 1986 vs. the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoff. He scored 55 in the 1993 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns en route to another title.
He scored at least 50 points in a playoff game in 1997, 1988 (twice against Cleveland), 1993 (twice) and 1989, per Land of Basketball.
Only 7 players have scored 50+ points in the NBA Finals. Antetokounmpo is the only active player on that list. He dropped a title-clinching 50 points in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals, per Statmuse.
From Jordan to Magic Johnson: Greatest performances in NBA playoff history
NBAMost points in a playoff game
Ranking | Player | Total points |
1 | Michael Jordan | 63 |
2 | Elgin Baylor | 61 |
3 | Donovan Mitchell | 57 |
4 | Jimmy Butler | 56 |
Charles Barkley | 56 | |
Michael Jordan | 56 | |
Wilt Chamberlain | 56 | |
5 | Damian Lillard | 55 |
Allen Iverson | 55 | |
Michael Jordan | 55 (three times) | |
Rick Barry | 55 |
Players with one playoff 50-pointer
19 players have at least one 50-point game in the playoffs. They are:
Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Isaiah Thomas, Russell Westbrook, Ray Allen, Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Sleepy Floyd, Dominique Wilkins, Bob McAdoo, John Havlicek, Billy Cunningham, and Rick Barry.
Nikola Jokic and Ja Morant were close to recording 50-point games in the first round. Jokic had 43 vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4, while Morant scored 45 against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3, per Bleacher Report.
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NBABiggest upsets in playoff history
Sports Brief has also reported on the greatest upsets in NBA playoff history.
The Warriors pulled off the greatest upset in 2017 when they beat the MavsNo. 1 seed Dallas Mavericks as the 8th seed.
The Cavaliers also pulled off a historic comeback to win the 2016 NBA Finals.
