All 70-point games in NBA history and the players who achieved 70+ greatness
Only 10 basketball players have made 70-point games in the NBA possible. These include legends such as Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, David Thompson, and most recently, Luka Dončić. Explore all 70-point games in NBA history.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- All 70-point games in NBA history
- 1. Philadelphia Warriors vs. New York Knicks – Wilt Chamberlain
- 2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Toronto Raptors – Kobe Bryant
- 3. Philadelphia Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers – Wilt Chamberlain
- 4. Philadelphia Warriors vs. Chicago Packers – Wilt Chamberlain
- 5. San Francisco Warriors vs. New York Knicks – Wilt Chamberlain
- 6. Denver Nuggets vs. Detroit Pistons – David Thompson
- 7. Dallas Mavericks vs. Atlanta Hawks – Luka Dončić
- 8. San Francisco Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers – Wilt Chamberlain
- 9. Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks – Elgin Baylor
- 10. San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers – David Robinson
- 11. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls – Donovan Mitchell
- 12. Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets – Damian Lillard
- 13. San Francisco Warriors vs. Syracuse Nationals – Wilt Chamberlain
- 14. Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker
- 15. Philadelphia 76ers vs. San Antonio Spurs – Joel Embiid
- How many 70-point games are there in NBA history?
- How many NBA players have 70-point games?
- Who has scored the most 70-point games in NBA history?
- Who has the most 70-point games in a season of all time?
Key takeaways
- There have been 15 70-point games in NBA history.
- Only ten NBA players have managed to make 70-point games possible in the league's history.
- Wilt Chamberlain leads the list of all players with 70-point records with six games, a record that remains unbroken.
- Elgin Baylor started the 70-point club with 71 points in a 1960 New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers match.
- Most recently, Dallas Mavericks' Luka Dončić scored 73 points during a January 2024 match against the Atlanta Hawks
All 70-point games in NBA history
In compiling the list of players with the most 70-point games in NBA history, we used recorded statistics and achievements as of 2025, acknowledging that rankings may change as active players continue to excel in their careers. This list was crafted with data and insights from trusted sources, including the official NBA website, ESPN, StatMuse and Basketball Reference, to ensure factual accuracy and historical context.
| Match date | Teams | Player | Points scored |
| 2 March 1962 | Philadelphia Warriors vs. New York Knicks | Wilt Chamberlain | 100 |
| 22 January 2006 | Los Angeles Lakers vs. Toronto Raptors | Kobe Bryant | 81 |
| 8 December 1961 | Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia Warriors | Wilt Chamberlain | 78 |
| 13 January 1962 | Philadelphia Warriors vs. Chicago Packers | Wilt Chamberlain | 73 |
| 16 November 1962 | San Francisco Warriors vs. New York Knicks | Wilt Chamberlain | 73 |
| 9 April 1978 | Detroit Pistons vs. Denver Nuggets | David Thompson | 73 |
| 26 January 2024 | Dallas Mavericks vs. Atlanta Hawks | Luka Dončić | 73 |
| 3 November 1962 | Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Francisco Warriors | Wilt Chamberlain | 72 |
| 15 November 1960 | Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks | Elgin Baylor | 71 |
| 24 April 1994 | San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers | David Robinson | 71 |
| 2 January 2023 | Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls | Donovan Mitchell | 71 |
| 26 February 2023 | Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets | Damian Lillard | 71 |
| 10 March 1963 | Syracuse Nationals vs. San Francisco Warriors | Wilt Chamberlain | 70 |
| 24 March 2017 | Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns | Devin Booker | 70 |
| 22 January 2024 | Philadelphia 76ers vs. San Antonio Spurs | Joel Embiid | 70 |
1. Philadelphia Warriors vs. New York Knicks – Wilt Chamberlain
Source: Getty Images
- Player's team: Philadelphia Warriors
- Match results: 169:147
- Points: 100
- Rebounds: 25
- Field goals attempted: 36-63
- Free throws made: 28-32
On this day in history, a monumental moment occurred at the Hersheypark Arena in Pennsylvania. The record-breaking centre who entered the fourth quarter of the game with 69 points ended the game in an uproar with fans breaking onto the court.
The 100-point game was not his only record for the day; other records include 63 field goal attempts, 36 field goals made, 28 free throws made, 25 rebounds, and the most points in one half.
2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Toronto Raptors – Kobe Bryant
Source: Getty Images
- Player's team: Los Angeles Lakers
- Match results: 122:104
- Points: 81
- Rebounds: 6
- Field goals attempted: 28-46
- Free throws made: 18-20
On 22 January 2006, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Toronto Raptors in a game that ended in the league's second-greatest output by a player. Regarded as one of the greatest shooting guards in league history, Kobe Bryant's 42-minute performance is still remembered even after his death.
3. Philadelphia Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers – Wilt Chamberlain
Source: Getty Images
- Player's team: Philadelphia Warriors
- Match results: 151:147
- Points: 78
- Rebounds: 43
- Field goals attempted: 31-62
- Free throws made: 16-31
Before his 100-point game in 1962, Wilt Chamberlain had scored 78 points months earlier on 8 December 1961. Second to him, Eglin Baylor held down his impressive performance, scoring at least 63 points. His 78 points broke the record set by Elgin Baylor on 15 November 1960.
4. Philadelphia Warriors vs. Chicago Packers – Wilt Chamberlain
Source: Getty Images
- Player's team: Philadelphia Warriors
- Match results: 135:117
- Points: 73
- Rebounds: 36
- Field goals attempted: 29-48
- Free throws made: 15-25
On 13 January 1962, Wilt Chamberlain made his third entry into the NBA's history books. The Philadelphia Warriors scored an impressive 73 points with 36 rebounds against the Chicago Packers, with 29 field goals and 15 free throws in the record..
5. San Francisco Warriors vs. New York Knicks – Wilt Chamberlain
Source: Getty Images
- Player's team: Philadelphia Warriors
- Match results: 127:111
- Points: 73
- Rebounds: 14
- Field goals attempted: 29-43
- Free throws made: 15-19
On November 16, 1962, Warriors player Wilt Chamberlain, who holds one of the longest wingspans, scored 73 points in a 127-111 win against the New York Knicks. This record makes Wilt the only basketball player who has the most 70-point games in an NBA season as of 2025.
6. Denver Nuggets vs. Detroit Pistons – David Thompson
Source: Getty Images
- Player's team: Denver Nuggets
- Match results: 137:139
- Points: 73
- Rebounds: 7
- Field goals attempted: 28-38
- Free throws made: 17-20
The Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons met on 9 April 1978 in front of 3,482 fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, Michigan. Nuggets star David Thompson's performance set an NBA record for most points scored by a guard in a game at the time, with the second-best point scorer from the opponents being Al Skinner with 27 points.
7. Dallas Mavericks vs. Atlanta Hawks – Luka Dončić
Source: Getty Images
- Player's team: Dallas Mavericks
- Match results: 148:143
- Points: 73
- Rebounds: 10
- Field goals attempted: 25-33
- Free throws made: 15-16
On 26 January 2024, Slovenian basketball player Luka Dončić joined the list of NBA legends with 73 points. The point guard led his team to a 148:143 victory at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, with 73 points, the fourth highest in NBA history.
8. San Francisco Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers – Wilt Chamberlain
Source: Getty Images
- Player's team: San Francisco Warriors
- Match results: 115:127
- Points: 72
- Rebounds: 18
- Field goals attempted: 29-48
- Free throws made: 14-18
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the San Francisco Warriors, 127 to 115, during a heated match on 3 November 1962 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. This record marked Chamberlain's fifth 70-point performance and the fifth-highest point total in NBA history.
9. Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks – Elgin Baylor
Source: Getty Images
- Player's team: Los Angeles Lakers
- Match results: 123:108
- Points: 71
- Rebounds: 25
- Field goals attempted: 28-48
- Free throws made: 15-19
On 15 November 1960, Elgin Baylor dropped his sixth-highest 70-point record during a match against the New York Knicks. The small forward was the first ever American basketball player to create a 70-point record, a privilege he held for three more seasons before Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points.
10. San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers – David Robinson
Source: Getty Images
- Team: San Antonio Spurs
- Match results: 112:97
- Points: 71
- Rebounds: 14
- Field goals attempted: 26-41
- Free throws made: 18-25
San Antonio Spurs centre David Robinson went for and won the scoring title in the last NBA game of the 1994 season. According to the Bleacher Report, the game is regarded as one of the Spurs' greatest games in franchise history.
11. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls – Donovan Mitchell
Source: Getty Images
- Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Match results: 145:134
- Points: 71
- Rebounds: 6
- Field goals attempted: 22-34
- Free throws made: 20-25
Cleveland Cavaliers' starter, Donovan Mitchell, came out on top as a stats leader during an NBA clash against the Bulls at the Rocket Arena. With the closest point maker, DeMar DeRozan only managing 41 points, it is no surprise that his role led the Cavaliers to a 145 win.
12. Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets – Damian Lillard
Source: Getty Images
- Team: Portland Trail Blazers
- Match results: 131:114
- Points: 71
- Rebounds: 6
- Field goals attempted: 22-38
- Free throws made: 14-14
Damian Lillard's record-breaking performance at the Moda Centre in Portland, Oregon, set the Trail Blazers on a winning path. The 71-point record with 13 3-pointers came on 26 February 2023 after two-time 60-point games for the Portland Trail Blazers.
13. San Francisco Warriors vs. Syracuse Nationals – Wilt Chamberlain
Source: Getty Images
- Team: San Francisco Warriors
- Match results: 148:163
- Points: 70
- Rebounds: 18
- Field goals attempted: 27-38
- Free throws made: 16-22
On 10 March 1963, the San Francisco Warriors hosted the Syracuse Nationals at the Onondaga War Memorial, where they lost 163 to 148. Wilt Chamberlain who played for the Warriors, scored 70 points, marking the last of his six 70-point games. As the man of the match, Wilt also had 18 rebounds and shot 71.1% from the field.
14. Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker
Source: Getty Images
- Team: Boston Celtics
- Match results: 130:120
- Points: 70
- Rebounds: 8
- Field goals attempted: 21-40
- Free throws made: 24-26
Boston Celtics' guard, Devin Booker scored 70 points on 24 March 2017, the sixth 70-point record in NBA history. The guard who played for 44 minutes recorded a 21 field goals made and 40 attempted, as well as 24 free throws made.
15. Philadelphia 76ers vs. San Antonio Spurs – Joel Embiid
Source: Getty Images
- Team: Philadelphia 76ers
- Match results: 133:123
- Points: 70
- Rebounds: 18
- Field goals attempted: 24-41
- Free throws made: 21-23
On 22 January 2024, Embiid scored a franchise-record 70 points, the most in the NBA this season, to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 133-123 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. The NBA player was 24 of 41 from the field, including 1 of 2 from 3-point range, and made 21 of 23 free throws.
How many 70-point games are there in NBA history?
As of the 2024/2025 season, there have been fifteen 70-plus point games for various NBA teams in the league's history. The 70+ point game records range between 100 and 70 points.
How many NBA players have 70-point games?
According to NBA.com, there are only 10 basketball players in the 70-plus point club. These include Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, David Thompson, Luka Dončić, Elgin Baylor, David Robinson, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker and Joel Embiid
Who has scored the most 70-point games in NBA history?
Wilt Chamberlain has had six records, scoring 70 points and 70-plus points in the league between 1962 and 1963. His first five records were scored while playing for the San Francisco Warriors, with the last one marking the first for the Syracuse Nationals.
Who has the most 70-point games in a season of all time?
The 1961/1962 NBA season was a golden season for Wilt Chamberlain and the San Francisco Warriors. In March 1962, he got 100 points, eight months later, he scored 73 and 72 points.
Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for the most 70-point games in NBA history, a testament to his extraordinary scoring ability. These players’ records not only highlight their talent but also set a benchmark for excellence that continues to inspire players across generations.
Legit.ng published an informative post about all 40-point games in NBA history and the players who made them. Notable legends such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Wilt Chamberlain have led their teams to victory with all-time high scores.
Wilt Chamberlain has smashed the record over 270 times, with the least number of such games going to Damian Lillard, who made 60 40-point basketball games possible. Read on to discover match details and play statistics throughout NBA history.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
