Record-breaking performance: Highest individual scoring in an NBA game

On March 2, 1962 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Wilt Chamberlain made NBA history by scoring a record-breaking 100 points in a single game for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks. Chamberlain's incredible performance included 23 points in the first quarter, 41 at the half, 28 in the third, and 31 in the fourth to reach the milestone of 100 points. Despite being a career 51.1% foul shooter, Chamberlain shot 36-of-63 (57.1%) from the field and 28-of-32 (87.5%) from the free throw line. He also grabbed 25 rebounds and recorded two assists while playing all 48 minutes of the game. After the game, Philadelphia statistician Harvey Pollack quickly jotted down "100" on a piece of paper and had Chamberlain pose with it for photographers, creating an iconic image that has become a part of basketball history. Chamberlain's record has stood for over six decades, with only Kobe Bryant in 2006 coming within 20 points of matching Wilt's historic achievement.

100 points (Warriors vs. Knicks, March 2, 1962)

81 points (Lakers vs. Raptors, Jan. 22, 2006)

78 points (Warriors vs. Lakers, Dec. 8, 1961 in 3OT)

Entering the 2024-25 season, there have been 15 70-plus point games in NBA history by 10 different players. Chamberlain is the only player with multiple 70+ point games with five.

73 points

: Mavericks at Hawks, Jan. 26, 2024

: Nuggets at Pistons, April 9, 1978

Warriors at Knicks, Nov. 16, 1962

Warriors vs. Packers, Jan. 13, 1962

72 points

Warriors at Lakers, Nov. 3, 1962

71 points

: Trail Blazers vs. Rockets, Feb. 26, 2023

: Cavaliers vs. Bulls, Jan. 2, 2023 (OT)

: Spurs at Clippers, Apr. 24, 1994

: Lakers vs. Knicks, Nov. 15, 1960

70 points

: 76ers vs. Spurs, Jan. 22, 2024

: Suns at Celtics, March 24, 2017

: Warriors at Nationals, March 10, 1963

In the NBA Playoffs, only two players have eclipsed 60 points in a single game — Elgin Baylor and Michael Jordan — and both did so against the same foe.

Baylor set the single-game record in 1962 with a 61-point performance for the Lakers in a win over the Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

That record stood for 24 years until Jordan scored 63 points in a double-overtime loss to the Celtics in Game 2 of the 1986 first round — a feat that Larry Bird described as: “

God disguised as Michael Jordan

.”

63 points (Bulls at Celtics, Game 2 of first round, April 20, 1986 in 2OT)

61 points (Lakers at Celtics, Game 5 of NBA Finals, April 14, 1962)