Most assists in an NBA Playoffs game: Full list of postseason single-game passing records all time

Kyle Irving

Most assists in an NBA Playoffs game: Full list of postseason single-game passing records all time image

The 2024 NBA Playoffs are underway, and as the saying goes, "Records are made to be broken."

When the best teams and players go head-to-head, greatness is bound to happen. We've seen insane scoring performances in the NBA this season, and someone has to put these prolific offensive players in a position to get a bucket.

The "traditional point guard" might be a fading art, but there are still some incredible passers participating in this year's postseason.

Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton dished out a season-best 23 assists in a 2023-24 game. Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic are two of the best playmakers in the NBA today, each topping out at 18 assists in a single game this season.

MORE: Why Nikola Jokic is SN's NBA Player of the Year — again

You can also never looked Lakers star LeBron James, who had 17 assists in a game a few days before the season ended.

Will any of these players challenge the NBA Playoffs' single-game assist record?

Most assists in an NBA Playoffs game

The NBA Playoffs single-game assist leaderboard is dominated by Magic Johnson and John Stockton.

Johnson and Stockton share the NBA Playoffs record for the most assists in a game with 24. Johnson is responsible for 10 of the 20-highest assist games in playoff history.

Steve Nash challenged the single-game playoff assists record back in 2007. He and Rajon Rondo are the only two players to dish out 20 or more assists in a playoff game since 2000.

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Rank Player Assists Year Result
T1 John Stockton 24 1988 West Finals: Game 5 Lakers 111, Jazz 109
  Magic Johnson 24 1984 West Finals: Game 2 Lakers 118, Suns 108
T3 Steve Nash 23 2007 West First Round: Game 4 Suns 113, Lakers 1000
  John Stockton 23 1996 West First Round: Game 1 Jazz 110, Trail Blazers 102
  Magic Johnson 23 1985 West Semis: Game 3 Lakers 130, Trail Blazers 126
6 Doc Rivers 22 1988 East Semis: Game 4 Hawks 118, Celtics 109
T7 Rajon Rondo 21 2018 West Semis: Game 3 Pelicans 119, Warriors 100
  John Stockton 21 1992 West First Round: Game 1 Jazz 115, Clippers 97
  Magic Johnson 21 1991 West Finals: Game 1 Lakers 111, Trail Blazers 106
  Magic Johnson 21 1991 West First Round: Game 2 Lakers 109, Rockets 98
  Magic Johnson 21 1984 NBA Finals: Game 3 Lakers 137, Celtics 104
12 Rajon Rondo 20 2011 East First Round: Game 3 Celtics 113, Knicks 96
  Magic Johnson 20 1991 NBA Finals: Game 5 Bulls 108, Lakers 101
  Tim Hardaway 20 1991 West Semis: Game 5 Lakers 124, Warriors 119
  Magic Johnson 20 1989 West Finals: Game 4 Lakers 122, Suns 117
  Magic Johnson 20 1988 West Finals: Game 5 Lakers 119, Mavericks 102
  John Stockton 20 1988 West Semis: Game 7 Lakers 109, Jazz 98
  Magic Johnson 20 1987 NBA Finals: Game 2 Lakers 141, Celtics 122
  Magic Johnson 20 1986 West Finals: Game 3 Rockets 117, Lakers 109
  Johnny Moore 20 1983 West Semis: Game 2 Spurs 126, Nuggets 109

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.