Jimmy Butler is the first 50-point scorer of the 2023 NBA playoffs.
'Playoff Jimmy' showed up in full force in Game 4 of the Heat vs. Bucks series, delivering a masterclass performance down the stretch in an epic comeback. Even with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the iineup, it was Butler who took over when it mattered most.
Butler — who entered with a playoff career-high 47 points — dropped 56 points on 19-28 shooting, making every big play down the stretch
This was the first 50-point game in the playoffs since 2021 when we saw three of them, with two coming in the first round and the other coming in the NBA Finals.
Jayson Tatum went for 50 points to carry the Celtics to their only win in a first-round series with the Nets, while Damian Lillard went for 55 points in a Trail Blazers overtime loss to the Nuggets in the opening round.
MORE: Who has the most points in a half in NBA Playoff history?
Most notably, Giannis Antetokounmpo went for 50 points in the Bucks' Game 6 closeout victory to win the NBA championship over the Suns in the Finals.
While Lillard had reached 50 in the playoffs once before, last year's outbursts were the first-ever 50-point playoff games for Antetokounmpo and Tatum.
Who has the most 50-point games in NBA Playoffs history? And what are the highest-scoring playoff performances in NBA Playoffs history?
Highest scoring games in NBA Playoffs history
Jimmy Butler enters the record books. Only three players have ever scored more than Butler in a playoff game.
| Rank | Player | Points |
| 1. | Michael Jordan | 63 |
| 2. | Elgin Baylor | 61 |
| 3. | Donovan Mitchell | 57 |
| T-4. | Jimmy Butler | 56 |
| T-4. | Charles Barkley | 56 |
| T-4. | Michael Jordan | 56 |
| T-4. | Wilt Chamberlain | 56 |
| T-8. | Damian Lillard | 55 |
| T-8. | Allen Iverson | 55 |
| T-8. | Michael Jordan | 55 (3 times) |
| T-8. | Rick Barry | 55 |
Jordan has the highest-scoring playoff game with 63 points against the Celtics in 1986. Elgin Baylor's 61 points, which rank second for the highest-scoring playoff game, are the most points ever scored in the NBA Finals. Baylor achieved the feat in 1962 against the Celtics.
Most recently, Donovan Mitchell erupted for 57 points against the Utah Jazz in the 2020 NBA "Bubble" at Disney World.
Most 50-point games in NBA Playoffs history
| Rank | Player | No. of 50-point games |
| 1. | Michael Jordan | 8 |
| 2. | Wilt Chamberlain | 4 |
| 3. | Allen Iverson | 3 |
| T-4. | Jamal Murray | 2 |
| T-4. | Donovan Mitchell | 2 |
| T-4. | Damian Lillard | 2 |
| T-4. | Jerry West | 2 |
| T-8. | 19 players tied | 1 |
Michael Jordan leads all players in NBA history with eight 50-point games in the playoffs — twice as many as the next closest player, Wilt Chamberlain.
Joining that elite duo as the only players with multiple 50-point playoff games are Allen Iverson, Jamal Murray, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard and Jerry West.
After that, there are 19 players who have at least one 50-point playoff game. You can find that list below:
- Jimmy Butler
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Jayson Tatum
- Kevin Durant
- LeBron James
- Isaiah Thomas
- Russell Westbrook
- Ray Allen
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Kobe Bryant
- Vince Carter
- Karl Malone
- Charles Barkley
- Sleepy Floyd
- Dominique Wilkins
- Bob McAdoo
- John Havlicek
- Billy Cunningham
- Rick Barry
