20 lowest-scoring NBA games where the defense dominated
The lowest-scoring NBA games in history include the Fort Wayne Pistons vs the Minneapolis Lakers (37 points) and the Washington Capitols vs the Detroit Falcons (83 points). These matches occurred during the 1940s and early 1950s when teams could hold the ball for minutes without shooting. While modern games rarely dip below 90 points, these stand out for their historic impact.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- 20 lowest-scoring NBA games
- 20. Pittsburgh Ironmen vs Toronto Huskies (102)
- 19. Philadelphia Warriors vs Cleveland Rebels (102)
- 18. Philadelphia Warriors vs Boston Celtics (102)
- 17. Washington Capitols vs Chicago Stags (102)
- 16. Indianapolis Olympians vs Milwaukee Hawks (102)
- 15. Detroit Falcons vs Boston Celtics (100)
- 14. Toronto Huskies vs Detroit Falcons (100)
- 13. St. Louis Bombers vs New York Knicks (100)
- 12. St. Louis Bombers vs Toronto Huskies (100)
- 11. Philadelphia Warriors vs Pittsburgh Ironmen (99)
- 10. Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks (98)
- 9. Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks (97)
- 8. Cleveland Rebels vs Detroit Falcons (96)
- 7. Toronto Huskies vs St. Louis Bombers (96)
- 6. Boston Celtics vs Pittsburgh Ironmen (91)
- 5. Boston Celtics vs Pittsburgh Ironmen (90)
- 4. Washington Capitols vs Pittsburgh Ironmen (89)
- 3. Boston Celtics vs Washington Capitols (85)
- 2. Washington Capitols vs Detroit Falcons (83)
- 1. Fort Wayne Pistons vs Minneapolis Lakers (37)
- What is the lowest-scoring game in NBA history?
- What is the lowest-scoring NBA game since 2000?
Key takeaways
- The lowest-scoring National Basketball Association game ever had 37 total points.
- The 1950 Pistons vs Lakers game led to the shot clock rule in 1954.
- Most of the lowest-scoring games occurred in the 1946–47 BAA season.
- Defensive strategies and ball-stalling were common causes of low scores.
- The Boston Celtics appeared in 7 of the 20 lowest-scoring games.
20 lowest-scoring NBA games
In compiling the lowest-scoring NBA games, we relied on recorded box scores, official match logs, and verified historical archives. This list reflects the games with the fewest combined points in league history, based on regular season and playoff data from the NBA. We cross-verified the figures with reputable sources, including Dunkest, Land of Basketball, and GiveMeSport.
| Rank | Game | Results | Total points |
| 1 | Fort Wayne Pistons vs Minneapolis Lakers | 19–18 | 37 |
| 2 | Washington Capitols vs Detroit Falcons | 50–33 | 83 |
| 3 | Boston Celtics vs Washington Capitols | 47–38 | 85 |
| 4 | Washington Capitols vs Pittsburgh Ironmen | 49–40 | 89 |
| 5 | Boston Celtics vs Pittsburgh Ironmen | 46–44 | 90 |
| 6 | Boston Celtics vs Pittsburgh Ironmen | 48–43 | 91 |
| 7 | Toronto Huskies vs St. Louis Bombers | 50–46 | 96 |
| 8 | Cleveland Rebels vs Detroit Falcons | 49–47 | 96 |
| 9 | Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks | 49–48 | 97 |
| 10 | Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks | 52–46 | 98 |
| 11 | Philadelphia Warriors vs Pittsburgh Ironmen | 53–46 | 99 |
| 12 | St. Louis Bombers vs Toronto Huskies | 60–40 | 100 |
| 13 | St. Louis Bombers vs New York Knicks | 51–49 | 100 |
| 14 | Toronto Huskies vs Detroit Falcons | 52–48 | 100 |
| 15 | Detroit Falcons vs Boston Celtics | 54– 46 | 100 |
| 16 | Indianapolis Olympians vs Milwaukee Hawks | 52–50 OT | 102 |
| 17 | Washington Capitols vs Chicago Stags | 54–48 | 102 |
| 18 | Philadelphia Warriors vs Boston Celtics | 59–43 | 102 |
| 19 | Philadelphia Warriors vs Cleveland Rebels | 54–48 | 102 |
| 20 | Pittsburgh Ironmen vs Toronto Huskies | 54–48 | 102 |
20. Pittsburgh Ironmen vs Toronto Huskies (102)
- Final score: 54–48, Ironmen won
- Date: 18 November 1946
- Venue: Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh (PA)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
In 1946, in Pittsburgh, the home Ironmen defeated Toronto 54–48. John Abramovic scored 22 points for Pittsburgh. The 102-point total ties it as the 20th-lowest scoring game ever.
19. Philadelphia Warriors vs Cleveland Rebels (102)
Source: Getty Images
- Final score: 58–44, Warriors won
- Date: 19 December 1946
- Venue: Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia (PA)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
On 19 December 1946 in Philadelphia, the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Rebels 58–44. The 102 combined points make this the 19th-lowest scoring game on record.
18. Philadelphia Warriors vs Boston Celtics (102)
- Final score: 59–43, Warriors won
- Date: 21 January 1947
- Venue: Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia (PA)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
On 21 January 1947 in Philadelphia, the Warriors crushed the Celtics 59–43. Boston's 43 was its season low. The total of 102 points ties this to the 18th-lowest total ever.
17. Washington Capitols vs Chicago Stags (102)
- Final score: 54–48, Capitols won
- Date: 31 January 1948
- Venue: Uline Arena, Washington D.C.
- Season: 1947–48 (BAA Regular Season)
The Capitols defeated the Chicago Stags 54–48 on 31 January 1948 in Washington. Guard Bob Feerick led Washington with 21 points. The 102 combined points tie it as the 17th-lowest scoring game.
16. Indianapolis Olympians vs Milwaukee Hawks (102)
Source: Getty Images
- Final score: 52–50 (OT), Olympians won
- Date: 13 March 1953
- Venue: Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler Fieldhouse), Indianapolis (IN)
- Season: 1952–53 (NBA Regular Season)
On 13 March 1953 in Indianapolis, the Olympians beat the Milwaukee Hawks 52–50 in overtime. The game log shows Indianapolis leading 52–50 after OT.
Indy’s Leo Barnhorst scored 12, while Milwaukee’s Bill Calhoun had 14 for Milwaukee. The defensive struggle left only 102 total points, tied for the 16th-lowest game ever.
15. Detroit Falcons vs Boston Celtics (100)
- Final score: 54–46, Falcons won
- Date: 23 November 1946
- Venue: Olympia Stadium, Detroit (MI)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
On 23 November 1946 in Detroit, the Falcons defeated the visiting Celtics 54–46. Al Brightman led Boston with 11 points, but struggled with turnovers under defensive pressure. This 100-point game is tied for the 15th-lowest total.
14. Toronto Huskies vs Detroit Falcons (100)
- Final score: 52–48, Huskies won
- Date: 29 December 1946
- Venue: Olympia Stadium, Detroit (MI)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
The Toronto Huskies beat the Falcons 52–48 on 29 December 1946 in Detroit. Toronto guard Mike McCarron scored 13 points. The 100-point total ties this game for the 14th-lowest.
13. St. Louis Bombers vs New York Knicks (100)
- Final score: 51–49, Bombers won
- Date: 20 March 1947
- Venue: St. Louis Arena, St. Louis (MO)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
The Bombers narrowly beat the Knicks 51–49 in a playoff thriller. The prominent American athlete, Belus Smawley delivered under pressure, scoring 18 points with a mix of drives and jumpers.
John Logan supported with 10 points, helping St. Louis close out a close second half. Bud Palmer led the Knicks with 13, but missed a critical shot in the final seconds. The combined 100 points tie it for the 13th-lowest scoring.
12. St. Louis Bombers vs Toronto Huskies (100)
Source: Getty Images
- Final score: 60–40, Bombers won
- Date: 23 March 1947
- Venue: St. Louis Arena, St. Louis (MO)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
On 23 March 1947 in St. Louis, the Bombers routed the Toronto Huskies 60–40. Belus Smawley led St. Louis with 10 points. The 100-point total ties this game for the 12th-lowest on record (part of a group of four games with 100 points).
11. Philadelphia Warriors vs Pittsburgh Ironmen (99)
- Final score: 53–46, Warriors won
- Date: 26 December 1946
- Venue: Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia (PA)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
Joe Fulks led the Philadelphia Warriors to a 53–46 win over the Ironmen by scoring 21 points, a huge feat in such a low-scoring game. The National Basketball Association player's scoring proved vital as both teams struggled with shooting percentages and turnovers. The 99 combined points make this the 11th-lowest scoring game ever.
10. Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks (98)
Source: Getty Images
- Final score: 52–46, Celtics won
- Date: 25 January 1947
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York (NY)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
Boston defeated the Knicks 52–46 on 25 January 1947 in New York. Al Brightman led the Celtics with 17 points. The 98-point total is ranked 10th-lowest in league annals.
9. Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks (97)
- Final score: 49–48, Celtics won
- Date: 6 February 1947
- Venue: Boston Garden, Boston (MA)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
The Celtics squeezed past the Knicks 49–48 in a game filled with grit and grind. Al Brightman, the American basketball player, contributed 14 points, giving Boston the edge in a game where no player scored more than 15.
Bud Palmer led the Knicks with 12 points, using his mid-range touch to keep them competitive. The Celtics’ late-game defence made the difference, forcing a turnover in the dying seconds.
8. Cleveland Rebels vs Detroit Falcons (96)
- Final score: 49–47, Rebels won
- Date: 1 December 1946
- Venue: Cleveland Arena, Cleveland (OH)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
In 1946, in Cleveland, the Rebels narrowly beat Detroit 49–47. Cleveland’s forward Schulz scored 12 to lead the home team. Detroit did not have a player in double figures. With 96 total points, this game also ties for the seventh-lowest scoring game.
7. Toronto Huskies vs St. Louis Bombers (96)
- Final score: 46–50, Bombers won
- Date: 15 December 1946
- Venue: St. Louis Arena, St. Louis (MO)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
On 15 December 1946 in St. Louis, the Bombers defeated the visiting Toronto Huskies 50–46 (St. Louis 50, Toronto 46). Guard John Logan paced St. Louis with 9 points in the low-scoring affair. The 96 combined points tie for the seventh-lowest total in league history.
6. Boston Celtics vs Pittsburgh Ironmen (91)
Source: Getty Images
- Final score: 48–43, Celtics won
- Date: 23 January 1947
- Venue: Boston Garden, Boston (MA)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
In 1947, at the Boston Garden, the Celtics defeated the Pittsburgh Ironmen 48–43. Pittsburgh’s Colby Gunther scored 14 and Stan Noszka 13, leading all scorers, but Boston’s defence was enough to win. The 91-point total tied for sixth-lowest on record.
5. Boston Celtics vs Pittsburgh Ironmen (90)
- Final score: 46–44, Celtics won
- Date: 2 December 1946
- Venue: Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh (PA)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
On 2 December 1946 in Pittsburgh, the Celtics eked out a 46–44 win over the Ironmen. Both teams were struggling (Boston was 3–11, Pittsburgh 4–10), but Boston’s Al Brightman poured in 12 points to lead his team.
Pittsburgh’s Harry Zeller added 11 points (shooting a perfect field-goal percentage). With only 90 combined points, this game stands as the fifth-lowest scoring contest in league history.
4. Washington Capitols vs Pittsburgh Ironmen (89)
Source: Getty Images
- Final score: 49–40, Capitols won
- Date: 30 November 1946
- Venue: Uline Arena, Washington D.C.
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
In 1946, in Washington (Uline Arena), the home Capitols beat the Pittsburgh Ironmen 49–40. Guard Bob Feerick led Washington with 14 points, and no Pittsburgh player scored in double figures. This defensive grind-out yielded only 89 total points; one of the earliest games below 90 and the fourth-lowest total ever at that time.
3. Boston Celtics vs Washington Capitols (85)
- Final score: 47–38, Celtics won
- Date: 16 January 1947
- Venue: Boston Garden, Boston (MA)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
In 1947, at the Boston Garden, the Celtics upset the Washington Capitols 47–38. Washington had been 24–7 on the season, but Boston’s defence “turned the tables” in this game.
Guard Fred Scolari scored a game-high 17 points for Washington, but Boston’s balanced scoring, led by Al Brightman’s 14 points, carried the Celtics to victory. The 85 combined points made it only the third-lowest scoring game on record.
2. Washington Capitols vs Detroit Falcons (83)
- Final score: 50–33, Capitols won
- Date: 2 November 1946
- Venue: Olympia Stadium, Detroit (MI)
- Season: 1946–47 (BAA Regular Season)
In 1946, the expansion Detroit Falcons hosted the Washington Capitols, and Washington won 50–33. The game was played at Detroit's Olympia Stadium in front of only about 6,000 fans. Bob Feerick scored 14 points, while Fred Scolari added another 14, controlling the tempo with disciplined passes.
Washington had a balanced attack: guards Bob Feerick and Fred Scolari each scored 14 points, with Bones McKinney adding 11 to account for most of the 50. Detroit’s offence was stifled throughout. The combined 83 points is the second-lowest total in NBA/BAA history, behind only the 37 above.
1. Fort Wayne Pistons vs Minneapolis Lakers (37)
Source: Getty Images
- Final score: 19–18, Pistons won
- Date: 22 November 1950
- Venue: Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis (MN)
- Season: 1950–51 (Regular Season)
In 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons beat the Minneapolis Lakers 19–18; the lowest-scoring game ever with only 37 total points. George Mikan, a dominant centre and former NBA player, scored 15 of the Lakers’ 18 points in the lowest-scoring game ever.
Even without the shot clock, Lakers star George Mikan still scored 15 of his team’s 18 points, while the crowd booed the painfully slow pace. In the final seconds, rookie Larry Foust grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to win it 19–18.
Lakers coach Johnny Kundla later lamented,
Playing like that will kill professional basketball.
ThE controversial game directly led to the NBA’s adoption of the 24-second shot clock in 1954.
What is the lowest-scoring game in NBA history?
The lowest-scoring game in NBA history occurred on 22 November 1950, when the Fort Wayne Pistons beat the Minneapolis Lakers 19–18. ThE game ended with a combined total of 37 points, making it the most defensive and slow-paced in league history.
What is the lowest-scoring NBA game since 2000?
The lowest-scoring NBA game since 2000 occurred on 9 November 2004, when the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the New Jersey Nets 64–60. The game ended with 124 combined points, making it the lowest total in the modern era with a shot clock and three-point line.
The history of the lowest-scoring NBA games highlights how drastically the sport has evolved. Early matchups often saw teams struggling to reach 50 points due to limited shot regulation and defensive dominance. With the introduction of the shot clock, the NBA shifted towards a faster, more offensive style.
Legit.ng recently published an informative post about the most points in an NBA game and who made them. Some of the NBA's greatest players have delivered unforgettable performances, setting records that still inspire fans and athletes today.
Multiple players have scored 70+ points, including David Robinson, David Thompson, and Donovan Mitchell. Read on to discover the most impressive records for points scored in a single NBA game and the players who achieved them.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
