Basketball used to be a different game. You’ve probably heard the stories about the 90s—hand-checking, bruising interior defense, and final scores that looked more like a rainy Tuesday night in the NFL. But things have changed. Drastically. If you look at the list of highest single game points NBA history has recorded, you'll notice something wild. A huge chunk of the most insane scoring outbursts didn't happen in the "golden era." They happened yesterday. Or last month.
Honestly, we are living through a scoring glitch. In the early 2000s, seeing a player drop 50 was a "stop what you’re doing and check Twitter" (or the ticker on ESPN) moment. Now? It barely makes the morning highlights unless someone clears 60 or 70. The bar for greatness hasn't just been moved; it’s been demolished.
The Night the Record Book Broke: Wilt’s 100
We have to start with the big one. March 2, 1962. There isn't even film of this game, which makes it feel like a mythical legend rather than actual sports history. Wilt Chamberlain, playing for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania, put up a number that feels fake: 100 points.
Basically, Wilt was a giant among men. He was 7'1" in an era where some centers were barely 6'8". He took 63 shots that night. For context, most NBA teams today take about 85 to 90 shots in an entire game. He also went 28-of-32 from the free-throw line, which is the real miracle since he was a career 51% shooter from the stripe.
People always argue about the legitimacy of the 100. The Knicks were allegedly fouling other players to keep the ball away from Wilt, while the Warriors were fouling the Knicks to get the ball back faster so Wilt could shoot. It was basically a 48-minute game of "get the big guy the ball." Does that diminish it? Kinda. But try going to your local gym and shooting 63 times. Your arms would fall off.
Kobe’s 81: The Modern Masterpiece
Ask any millennial hoop fan about the highest single game points NBA players have achieved, and they won't talk about Wilt. They’ll talk about January 22, 2006. Kobe Bean Bryant against the Toronto Raptors.
Unlike Wilt’s game, Kobe’s 81 was a necessity. The Lakers were actually losing that game. They were down by 18 points in the third quarter. Kobe didn't just decide to score; he decided to rescue a mediocre Lakers squad. He had 55 points in the second half alone.
The efficiency was terrifying.
- 28-of-46 from the field.
- 7-of-13 from three.
- 18-of-20 from the line.
Jalen Rose, who was guarding Kobe for a good chunk of that night, still gets teased about it two decades later. But honestly, nobody was stopping him. He was in that "zone" where the rim looks like the size of the Pacific Ocean.
Why 70 is the New 50
Something weird happened around 2023. Suddenly, the "70-point club," which used to be a tiny, elite group of legends like Elgin Baylor, David Thompson, and David Robinson, started growing. Fast.
Luka Doncic dropped 73 on the Hawks in early 2024. Just a few days before that, Joel Embiid put up 70 on the Spurs. Then you had Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell both hitting 71 within weeks of each other in 2023.
Why is this happening?
It’s the math. The "Morey-ball" revolution convinced everyone that mid-range jumpers are a sin and three-pointers are king. When you have a guy like Dame Lillard who can pull up from 35 feet, the court stretches so thin that the defense literally cannot cover everyone.
Plus, the pace is faster. More possessions mean more shots. More shots mean higher scores. It’s not rocket science; it’s just volume.
The Forgotten 70-Point Performances
While everyone remembers Kobe and Wilt, some of the other entries in the highest single game points NBA records are actually more interesting because of the context.
Take David Robinson’s 71 in 1994. It was the very last game of the season. "The Admiral" was in a neck-and-neck race with Shaquille O'Neal for the scoring title. The Spurs basically fed Robinson every single possession against the Clippers just so he could beat Shaq. He did. Shaq was reportedly furious.
Then there’s Devin Booker. He scored 70 points against the Celtics in 2017. He was only 20 years old! The crazy part? The Suns actually lost that game. It’s one of the few times a player has cleared 70 and walked away with an "L." It felt a bit hollow to some critics because the Suns were intentionally fouling late in the game just to give Booker more possessions to reach the milestone.
Analyzing the Top Single-Game Scorers
If we look at the pure numbers, the list is a mix of old-school dominance and modern-day spacing.
- Wilt Chamberlain (100) – The untouchable ceiling.
- Kobe Bryant (81) – The closest anyone has ever come.
- Wilt Chamberlain (78) – He actually holds several spots in the top ten.
- Luka Doncic (73) – Done with incredible efficiency (75% shooting).
- David Thompson (73) – A legendary shootout in 1978.
Luka’s 73 might actually be the most impressive from an analytical standpoint. He didn't just "chucker" his way there. He made 25 of 33 shots. In the modern NBA, where defenders are faster and schemes are more complex, shooting 75% while scoring 70+ is basically a perfect game.
What Most People Get Wrong About High Scoring
People love to say "defense is dead." That’s a common trope on social media. But that’s a lazy take.
Defenders today are actually better than they were in the 60s or 80s. They are faster, stronger, and more versatile. The problem is the rules. You can't touch a perimeter player anymore without getting whistled for a foul. If you breathe on a superstar like Giannis or Embiid, they’re going to the line.
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Also, the skill level has shifted. In the 90s, if a 7-footer stepped out to the three-point line, the coach would bench him. Now, if a 7-footer can't shoot the three, he can't stay on the floor. When you have five shooters on the court at once, you can't double-team the hot hand as easily. If you double Luka, he passes to a wide-open shooter. If you don't double him, he scores 73. It's a "pick your poison" scenario that favors the offense every single time.
How to Watch for the Next 70-Point Game
So, who is next?
The league is currently overflowing with talent. If you want to see someone challenge the highest single game points NBA leaderboard, keep an eye on these factors:
- The "Green Light" Players: Guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Anthony Edwards who have the ball in their hands 40% of the time.
- Bad Matchups: Look for a superstar playing against a team with a terrible defense and a fast pace (looking at you, Wizards or Hornets).
- The Anniversary Effect: Interestingly, many high-scoring games happen in January or February. Embiid and Luka’s 70-pieces both happened within a week of the anniversary of Kobe’s 81. Motivation is a hell of a drug.
To really appreciate these games, you have to look past the box score. Watch the third quarter. That’s usually when a "great" game turns into a "historic" one. If a guy has 45 at the end of the third, get to a TV.
The NBA is in a weird spot right now where the records are being rewritten every week. It makes the regular season feel like a video game. Whether that's good for the sport is up for debate, but you can't deny that watching someone put up 70 is the ultimate dopamine hit for a basketball fan.
Practical Steps for the Stats Junkie:
- Track Game Score: Use sites like Basketball-Reference to look at "Game Score" (GmSc), which weighs points against efficiency and turnovers.
- Follow Pace Stats: Higher pace equals more opportunities. Teams like the Pacers or Bucks often play in games where a 60-point performance is more likely.
- Watch the "Usage Rate": Players with a usage rate over 35% are the only ones with a realistic shot at breaking these records.
The 100-point mark is probably safe for now. But 81? With the way the three-point shot is trending, Kobe’s second-place spot might be in more danger than we think.
Actionable Next Steps
To truly understand the evolution of NBA scoring, your next step is to analyze the "Pace Factor" of the current season compared to the 1990s. Look up the league-average possessions per game for 1996 versus 2025. You will see a direct correlation between the increase in possessions and the frequency of 70-point games. This context will help you differentiate between a player who is "stat-padding" and one who is simply a product of a much faster, more efficient era of basketball. Once you see the numbers, you'll realize that today's stars aren't just better shooters—they're playing a fundamentally different version of the game.