The ranking of the highest score in a single game in NBA history is not as valuable as James?

The highest score in a single game in the NBA is not only a reflection of the player's ability, but also a product of the interweaving of multiple factors such as the rules of the times and the intensity of the game.

The following is a comprehensive ranking combining scoring difficulty, game background, opponent's strength and era value (from high to low by value):

1. Kobe Bryant | 81 points (January 22, 2006)

Opponent: Toronto Raptors (Eastern Playoff level team)

Game background: Game background and reversal

On January 22, 2006, in the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Toronto Raptors, the Lakers trailed 14 points 49-63 in the first half. The Raptors once widened the score difference to 18 points in the third quarter. At this time, no one in the Lakers team except Kobe scored in double digits. After the start of the third quarter, Kobe made 14 shots in 10 minutes, hitting 10 goals, including 3 three-pointers, and scored 27 points in a single quarter. With 8 minutes and 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Lakers were still 12 points behind. Kobe then made four consecutive jump shots and overtook the score through free throws and breakthroughs in the last 4 minutes. At the end of the game, the Lakers won 122-104, and Kobe scored a total of 55 points in the second half, including 28 points in the fourth quarter, without an assist in the game.

Efficiency and characteristics of the times

Kobe scored 28 goals in 46 shots in the game, made 7 of 13 shots from outside the three-point line, and made 18 of 20 free throws. The Raptors adopted a double-team strategy in the fourth quarter, but Kobe scored a jump shot by running around the screen by running off the ball, or a back-on-single jump shot at a low post. The NBA has not cancelled the "hand-check" rule in the 2005-06 season, allowing defenders to touch the offensive player's torso with their hands. The Raptors ranked 14th in the league in defensive efficiency during the season. The team has two outside defenders, Jaylen Ross and Morris Peterson. The two have a total of 32 minutes against Kobe. During this period, Kobe made 12 of 19 shots under his defense.

Efficiency: 28 of 46 shots (60.9% shooting), 7 of 13 three-pointers, and 18 of 20 free throws.

Gold content: No overtime or brushed points disputes, it remains efficient in the face of double-teaming, and the results of the game directly affect the outcome.

Era characteristics: The defense intensity in the 2000s was extremely high (the "hand-check" rule was not cancelled), and the opponent completed an epic performance against defense.

2. Wilt Chamberlain | 100 points (March 2, 1962)

Opponent: New York Knicks (the bottom team in the league)

Game background: On March 2, 1962, in the Philadelphia Warriors' game against the New York Knicks, Chamberlain played 48 minutes in the game, made 36 goals with 63 shots, and made 32 free throws and 28 free throws. The Knicks had a record of 29 wins and 51 losses that season, with the last in the league in defensive efficiency, and the main center Phil Jordan was absent due to injury. At the end of the third quarter of the game, the Warriors led 125-106, but coach Frank McGuire asked the team to continue passing the ball to Chamberlain. In the last 2 minutes of the fourth quarter, the Warriors led by 30 points. The Knicks gave up defense and used foul tactics to prevent Chamberlain from scoring, but the latter still scored 100 points through free throws.

The difference in rules and the times limits

The NBA has not yet set up a three-point line in the 1961-62 season, and the defense three-second rule does not exist, allowing the center to stay at the basket permanently. Of Chamberlain's 63 shots, 51 of them came from hooks or dunks in the penalty area. The Knicks have only two double-team records against Chamberlain, and its main defense center Darrell Imhoff is only 2.06 meters tall, 13 cm shorter than Chamberlain. This season, the league averaged 126 rounds per game (98 per game in 2023), and the pace of the game accelerated objectively increased scoring opportunities. Chamberlain averaged 39.5 shots per game that season, accounting for 47% of the team's total shots.

Efficiency: 28 of 36 shots (77.8% shooting percentage), 28 of 32 free throws (deliberately committing fouls to score points).

Value: The only 100 points in history, but the defense of the times is loose (no three-second zone rules, no three-point line), and the opponent's passive defense is more controversial.

Legendary: The data myth is difficult to replicate, but it is almost impossible to reproduce under the rules of modern basketball.

3. Donovan Mitchell | 71 points (January 2, 2023)

Opponent: Chicago Bulls (Eastern Playoff Team)

Game background: Cavaliers reversed overtime, Mitchell scored 30 points in the last quarter + overtime, winning the last 15 points. On January 2, 2023, in the Cleveland Cavaliers' game against the Chicago Bulls, Mitchell hit the equalizer in the last 4 seconds of regular time, dragging the game into overtime. During the fourth quarter and overtime, Mitchell made a total of 19 shots and hit 12 goals, including 4 three-pointers. In the last 1 minute and 36 seconds of overtime, the Cavaliers were 5 points behind. Mitchell completed three consecutive breakthrough layups and a three-pointer in a step back, winning the team's last 15 points. The Bulls adopted a defense switch strategy in overtime, with Alex Caruso defending Mitchell alone, but the latter forced center Vucevic to switch defense through pick-and-roll, and used the speed difference to complete six penalty zone scores.

Defensive pressure and efficiency analysis

The Bulls ranked fifth in the league in defensive efficiency during the season. Caruso and DeRozan defended Mitchell for a total of 41 rounds, during which Mitchell made 9 of 14 shots under his defense. Mitchell made 22 of the 34 shots in the game, 9 of which were double-teamed. The Cavaliers set 54 off-ball screens for it, and Mitchell scored 18 points by receiving the ball around the screen. Of his 25 free throws, 11 of them were made from breakthroughs and 14 of them were made from three-point shooting fouls

. The value is: the highest score in active service, with strong dominance at critical moments, and the opponent's defense is online (Caruso, DeRozan's main defense).

4. David Thompson | 73 points (April 9, 1978)

Opponent: Detroit Pistons

Game background: In order to compete for the title of scoring (competing with George Gervin), Thompson scored 53 points in the first half.

Efficiency: 28 of 38 shots (73.7%), 17 of 20 free throws.

Value: The explosive power of a single game is amazing, but the motivation for the game is questioned as "scoring points" (in the end, Ge Wen scored 63 points the next day and overtook the scoring champion).

5. Devin Booker | 70 points (March 24, 2017)

Opponent: Boston Celtics (Eastern Strong Team)

Game Background: The Suns lost 10 points, and Booker still played for the game in the garbage time in the last quarter, causing controversy.

Efficiency: 21 of 40 shots (52.5%), 4 of 11 three-pointers, 24 of 26 free throws.

Value: The youngest man with 70 points, but after the victory or defeat of the game has been decided, he deliberately scored points, weakening the legend.

6. Elgin Baylor | 71 points (November 15, 1960)

Opponent: New York Knicks

Game background: Baylor scored 71 points in the era without three-point line and scored 25 rebounds at the same time.

Gold content: Representative of violent aesthetics in early basketball, but the opponent's defense level and game rhythm (all-game scores 123-108) affect the evaluation.

7. Damian Lillard | 71 points (February 26, 2023)

Opponent: Houston Rockets (the bottom team in the West)

Game background: The Trail Blazers won a big victory, Lillard made a record 13 of 22 three-pointers, and only played 3 minutes in the final quarter.

Value: The only two active service times are 70+, but the opponent's defense is loose (the Rockets' second-last defense efficiency in the season).

8. Luca Doncic | 73 points (January 26, 2024)

Opponent: Atlanta Hawks (playoff level team)

Game background: The Mavericks narrowly won, Doncic made 21 of 25 shots (shot percentage of 84%) with an amazing efficiency.

Gold content: The most efficient 70+ in history, but the Eagles lack defense resources (Trey Young, Bogdan's main defense), and the intensity of the game is limited.

Focus on dispute

The evaluation system of single-field score data has multiple paradoxes. Kobe's 81 points were widely praised for his reversal value and defensive intensity, but the Raptors' defensive efficiency was only in the middle of the league in this game, and the Lakers did not enter the finals in the end. Chamberlain's 100 points are often questioned due to differences in the rules of the times, but his stability of averaging 50.4 points per game has not been broken so far. Modern players such as Doncic had 73 points against the Hawks in 2024. Although the shooting percentage reached 84%, the Hawks ranked 26th in defensive efficiency in the season, and their data value is difficult to compare horizontally across the era. The conflict between data and the essence of competition

The core controversy in the historical high score of NBA lies in the separation of competitive goals and personal data. Booker's 70 points against the Celtics in 2017 were criticized for scoring points for garbage time, but the Suns were in the reconstruction period that season, and the team's tactics clearly required him to take on the main attacking role. Although Baylor's 71 points in 1960 were accompanied by 25 rebounds, his opponent's Knicks won less than 30% in the season and the pace of the game was slow (only 123-108 in the whole game). When data accumulation is separated from the relationship between victory and loss, its essential value of competitive sports will inevitably be questioned. In the future, the judgment system may need to introduce a "winning contribution value correction coefficient" to dynamically bind the score data to the real-time winner-loss difference between the competition.

Discussion

These games, which one you think is the most valuable score is the most valuable? Welcome to leave your opinion in the comment section, let us discuss