Top 20 highest-scoring NBA games in the history of the league

The highest scoring NBA game, irrespective of overtime, took place back on December 13, 1983. There are, however, a number of games that have achieved other noteworthy records. Consider the game that happened on March 2, 1962, in which Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in one contest. In 1990, a number of records were also established, and as of today, none have been surpassed. This article breaks down a number of records in the NBA you may wish to know.

For the purpose of creating this top 20 post, we have combined data from numerous trustworthy sources. The information is current as of August 2022.

The highest scoring NBA games in history

The NBA has seen a lot of teams go on hot streaks that make the coaches of their opponents shrug and shake their heads. The only thing the defence does in response is just to wait and pray that the ensuing shot doesn't find its way through the bottom of the net. So, which are the highest scoring NBA games of all time as of 2022?

20. Phoenix Suns 151-153 Portland Trail Blazers

With just 10.7 seconds and 3.6 seconds remaining in the game, Kevin Duckworth made a pair of free throws to give the Blazers a 152-151 lead. Another free throw from Terry Porter gave the Trail Blazers another point.

Dan Majerle attempted a shot from 30 feet out with just 2.7 seconds remaining in the game, but his attempt missed, and the Trail Blazers won. As a result, Portland took a 3-1 series advantage and never looked back

19. Denver Nuggets 162-143 Portland Trail Blazers

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 162-143 at McNichols Sports Arena, setting a new record while being led by the 30 from David Thompson.

Denver not only set a team record with 64 field goals made but also broke the franchise record for points in a game. For the Nuggets, Thompson, Kiki Vandeweghe (23), Ken Higgs (21) and Alex English (20) all scored at least 20. The scoring spree occurred during Denver's extraordinary run of 136 straight games with at least 100 points, which still stands as an NBA record.

18. Denver Nuggets 155-150 Indiana Pacers

This remains to be one of the highest-scoring NBA games ever between the two teams. The game was played at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver.

17. Cleveland Cavaliers 154-153 Los Angeles Lakers

Those who were emotionally immersed in the Cleveland Cavaliers-Los Angeles Laker's offensive fiesta that night found it difficult to watch the game. Nevertheless, the game will always remain in the records for both teams.

16. Milwaukee Bucks 155-154 Seattle Supersonics

For both teams, it was their fifth game of the season when the Seattle Supersonics travelled to Milwaukee to play the Bucks. On that Thursday night, the wall was coming down, and the world was changing, with the game drawing an estimated 14,012 spectators to the Bradley Center. It was slightly above freezing outside.

15. Syracuse Nationals 163-148 San Francisco Warriors

In a loss against the Syracuse Nationals, centre Wilt Chamberlain of the San Francisco Warriors scored 70 points. In his illustrious career, he had six games with 70 or more.

14. Portland Trail Blazers 155-156 Chicago Bulls

Quintin Dailey scored 33 points, and Dave Greenwood scored 26 as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Portland Trail Blazers. Jim Paxson led the Portland Trail Blazers with 41.

13. San Antonio Spurs 157-154 Denver Nuggets

Gene Banks scored 24 points, and John Paxson added 25 as San Antonio Spurs defeated Denver Nuggets. Denver Nuggets' Kiki Vandeweghe scored 30 points.

12. Boston Celtics 173-139 Minneapolis Lakers

At that juncture, the Boston Celtics were about to embark on the greatest dynastic run in NBA history. In 1958, they met their bitter rivals, the Minneapolis Lakers, in the Finals, which they lost 4-3.

The Celtics were able to score 173 points in a rout because the game was played at such a frenetic speed back then, even though they were often playing in the second gear.

11. San Antonio Spurs 161-153 Denver Nuggets

On that night, David Robinson set a career-high with 43 points and ignited a San Antonio push late in the third quarter to enable the Spurs to defeat the frantic Denver Nuggets.

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Denver had an early 15-point lead and maintained it into halftime, leading 90-83. The two teams were on pace to break the NBA's all-time scoring record for a regulation game. San Antonio had gone undefeated in its first two games at the time, while Denver and its new coach, Paul Westhead, had lost their previous four games.

10. Phoenix Suns 173-143 Denver Nuggets

The Phoenix Suns thrashed the Denver Nuggets 173-143, breaking numerous NBA and team records in the process. Their 173 points are tied with the 1959 Boston Celtics for the most points ever scored by a team in a regular-season game.

Phoenix got out to a fast start, scoring 107 points in the first half—50 in the first quarter and 57 in the second—an NBA record. The score in this game at halftime is the highest in an NBA game. In one half, 174 points were scored by both teams combined.

9. Cincinnati Royals 165-151 San Diego Rockets

The Royals' five starting players all finished with 20 or more points, with Tom van Ardale and Connie Dierking leading the way with 36 and 34 points, respectively. The Royals led the Rockets by 18 points at the end of the third quarter, practically putting a stop to the game. Hayes led all scorers with 40 points in the contest.

8. Philadelphia Warrior 169-147 New York Knicks

Wilt Chamberlain set the record for the most points in an NBA game by one player, scoring 100 points in the night as the Philadelphia Warriors crushed the New York Knickerbockers. With his performance, Chamberlain shattered the 78-point league scoring record that had been established the previous year.

During the game, he also set the record for the player with the most points in a half in NBA history, with 59-points. Chamberlain is also the only player in NBA history with multiple games of at least 70-points, a thing he did six times. During that season, Chamberlain also set the record for the most basketball field goals scored in an NBA season, having 1,597.

7. Houston Rockets 159-158 Washington Wizards

It was thrilling and draining to see the Rockets' 159-158 victory in the back-and-forth. No lead was secure. Defence occurred in sporadic bursts. The clash also produced the third-highest cumulative regulation score (317) in NBA history in just the fourth game of the season.

6. Phoenix Suns 161-157 New Jersey Nets

34 lead changes, 21 ties, 318 points, two overtimes, and a thrilling duel between two of the best point guards in the league. In a match that was as good as it gets in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns defeated the New Jersey Nets that Thursday night in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Suns won their eighth straight game with a score that matched the fourth-highest point total in NBA history, thanks to a performance by Steve Nash. It also included nine of his career-high 42 points in the second overtime and a game-winning lane shot from Boris Diaw with 14 seconds remaining. The Nets scored a game-high number of points.

5. Denver Nuggets 163-155 San Antonio Spurs

The Nuggets were able to outlast the Spurs, who had great games from George 'Iceman' Gervin (38 points, 9 assists) and John Lucas (23 points, 18 assists). The Nuggets were helped by players like Kiki Vandeweghe, who led the team in scoring with 50 points in this game, and Alex English (25 points).

4. Golden State Warriors 162-158 Denver Nuggets

The Warriors' greater overall quality outlasted Orlando Woolridge's fight with the Nuggets, making this game the highest-scoring NBA game without overtime (37 points).

Mitch Richmond and Tim Hardaway each scored 29 and 32 points, while Chris Mullin led all scorers with 38 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals, and a block.

3. Chicago Bulls 168-161 Atlanta Hawks

At the end of the regular, the thrilling overtime period was tied at 124. After the first overtime and 147-147 after two, the score remained knotted. After the third overtime, the score between the two teams remained 155–155. Eventually, Chicago pulled away in the fourth overtime thanks to seven points from Lauri Markkanen, a 7-footer.

2. San Antonio Spurs 171-166 Milwaukee Bucks

In 114 total minutes of play, Mike Mitchell and George Gervin of the Spurs scored 45 and 50 points, respectively. Brian Winters, the team's sixth man, led the Bucks' push.

Winters took over the game when starter Mickey Johnson fouled out 19 minutes into it, scoring a game-high 42 points while making 19 of his 25 field goal tries.

1. Denver Nuggets 184-186 Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets competed in what would turn out to be the highest-scoring game in league history. After three overtime periods and a total of 370 points scored by both teams, the Pistons prevailed 186-184 and left Denver.

The highest scoring NBA game by one team and the first game in NBA history in which four players scored over 40 points both occurred in this contest. Hall of Famer Alex English will never forget that evening as well. He scored almost 25,000 points in 1,193 games throughout his career, but this particular game sticks out in his mind.

NBA records were also broken throughout the contest, including the most points scored by one team (186), the most points scored by a losing team (184), the most field goals made by two teams (142), the most field goals made by one team (74) and the most assists made by two teams (93).

Those who participated in and watched the highest-scoring NBA games have shared several tales about them. However, there are a few guys who are almost certainly going to be referenced during these tales. These are players like David Thompson, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, and many others.

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