NBA Finals: Single-game records in Finals history

Author Photo
Dwight Howard, Magic Johnson, and Stephen Curry

Just about everyone knows that Wilt Chamberlain set the regular-season record for most points in a single game with 100 in 1962. Most remember Klay Thompson setting the NBA record for most 3s in a single regular season game with 14 in Oct. 2018. 

But what about the holders of these records in the NBA Finals – the grandest stage of them all?

Check out all the single-game Finals record holders in the major statistical categories of points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and 3-pointers:

Points: 61 - Elgin Baylor (1962)

Elgin Baylor's 61 points in Game 5 of the 1962 NBA Finals has stood the test of the time to remain the Finals' single-game scoring record. 

In fact, it is the only 60-point performance in Finals history. 

Although Baylor's monster double-double of 61 points and 22 rebounds gave the Los Angeles Lakers a 3-2 series lead against the Boston Celtics, the Celtics rallied to win the next two games and thus the 1962 NBA title.

Rebounds: 38 - Wilt Chamberlain (1967, 1964) and Bill Russell (1963)

Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell hold numerous rebounding records, so this should come as no surprise. 

Russell grabbed 38 rebounds in a Game 2 win against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1963 Finals, giving the Celtics a 2-0 series lead. Boston went on to win the Finals 4-2, their sixth title in seven years.

Chamberlain grabbed 38 rebounds twice in the Finals.

The first instance was in 1964 as a member of the San Francisco Warriors in a Game 4 loss against the Boston Celtics. The Warriors went on to lose that Finals in five games. 

The second time Chamberlain pulled down 38 rebounds was in 1967 as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. It came in a Game 2 win against the San Francisco Warriors and the Sixers went on to win the 1967 NBA Finals in six games for the franchise's second title.

Assists: 21 - Magic Johnson (1984)

Magic Johnson in the 1984 NBA Finals

Five-time NBA Champion Magic Johnson leads the career assists rankings in the postseason and the Finals.

In fact, Johnson holds the top six spots on the single-game assists record table. 

His record 21-assist night came against the Boston Celtics in a 33-point Game 3 blowout win for the Lakers. The win gave the Lakers a 2-1 series lead but they would lose the series in seven games.  

Steals: 7 - Robert Horry (1995)

In the 1995 NBA Finals, the Houston Rockets swept the Orlando Magic to repeat as NBA Champions. 

In Game 2 of this series, Robert Horry made his impact felt on the defensive end of the floor, recording a Finals record seven steals to go along with his double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in Houston's 117-106 win.

Blocks: 9 - Dwight Howard (2009)

Dwight Howard in Game 4 of the 2009 Finals.

Prime Dwight Howard was a monster in the paint. 

With Howard as the centrepiece, the Orlando Magic made a run to the 2009 NBA Finals where they faced Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.  Down 2-1 in the series, Howard registered a Finals record nine blocks in Game 4 to go along with his 16 points and 21 rebounds.

Alas, his effort was in vain as the Lakers triumphed in overtime, taking a 3-1 series lead. A few days later, the Lakers clinched the 15th championship in franchise history by winning Game 5. 

3-Pointers: 9 - Stephen Curry (2018)

Only nine times in NBA history have the Finals been decided in a sweep. 

The 2018 NBA Finals saw Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors roll past LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers with Curry, who is arguably the greatest shooter ever, going off in Game 2.

Curry scored 27 of his game-high 33 points from beyond the arc at a 52.9% clip (9-for-17). 

Author(s)