Who has the most points in a game in NBA history? Full list of player leaderboard

Scott Rafferty

Who has the most points in a game in NBA history? Full list of player leaderboard image

Jan. 22, 2024, was a historic day in the NBA.

In Philadelphia's win over San Antonio, Joel Embiid erupted for 70 points, 18 rebounds and five assists. Later in the same night, Karl-Anthony Towns scored a career-best 62 points in a loss to the Hornets.

It marks only the fourth time in NBA history that two players have recorded 60 points on the same night. The last time it happened was in 1978.

Towns didn't quite do enough to crack the 15 highest scoring performances in NBA history, but Embiid is now one of only nine players to score at least 70 points in a single game.

MORE: Complete NBA All-Star starter and reserve picks

Who has the most points in a game in NBA history?

Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for most points scored in an NBA game with 100. Kobe Bryant ranks second with 81 points.

Other than Chamberlain and Bryant, the only players in NBA history who have scored 70 points in an NBA game are David Thompson (73), Elgin Baylor (71), David Robinson (71), Donovan Mitchell (71), Damian Lillard (71), Devin Booker (70) and Embiid (70).

Chamberlain is the only player in NBA history with multiple 70-point games. He had six such games in his career.

Most points scored in an NBA game (Stathead)
Rank Player Points Year
1. Wilt Chamberlain 100 1962
2. Kobe Bryant 81 2006
3. Wilt Chamberlain 78 1961
T-4. Wilt Chamberlain 73 1962
T-4. Wilt Chamberlain 73 1962
T-4. David Thompson 73 1978
7. Wilt Chamberlain 72 1962
T-8. Elgin Baylor 71 1960
T-8. David Robinson 71 1994
T-8 Donovan Mitchell 71 2023
T-8. Damian Lillard 71 2023
T-12 Joel Embiid 70 2024
T-12. Devin Booker 70 2017
T-12. Wilt Chamberlain 70 1963
15. Michael Jordan 69 1990

Mitchell and Lillard have the highest-scoring games among active players with 71 points, while Booker and Embiid are right behind them with 70. A number of active players have scored 60 points in a game, including James Harden, LeBron James and Bradley Beal.

At the age of 20, Booker is also the youngest player ever to score 60 points in a game. The oldest? Bryant, at 37.

Fun fact: Kevin Durant, who has the fourth-highest career scoring average in NBA history, has never scored 60 points in a game. His career high is 55 points.

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.