Irving and Towns join elite group with 60-point games

Kyrie Irving and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 60 points in a single game in back-to-back nights. They join an elite group of players who have scored 60 or more points in a game in the NBA. Let’s take a look at the players who have scored the most points in a single game throughout NBA history.

Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain tops the list with the most points ever scored in a game with his legendary 100-point game in 1961 against the Knicks (this was when he played for the Philadelphia Warriors). Whereas many players would struggle to even reach 60 points in a game, Chamberlain scored 60 or more points in all of 32 career games from 1961 to 1968.

Kobe Bryant

As a Laker, Kobe Bryant came the closest to Chamberlain’s 100 as anyone has yet with 81 points scored in a game against the Raptors in 2005. During his career, he scored over 60 in a single game six times.

David Thompson

The third highest scorer on the list is David Thompson. Though he only did it one time with the Denver Nuggets, he was able to put up 73 points against the Pistons in 1977.

David Robinson

When Robinson played for the San Antonio Spurs in 1993, he had his highest-scoring game and the fourth overall highest score in a single game with 71 points in a game against the Clippers. He, too, accomplished this feat only once in his career,

Elgin Baylor

Another regular over-60 scorer, Elgin Baylor scored over 60 four times with a maximum of 71 points scored during his time playing in Minneapolis and Los Angeles from 1959-61.

Devin Booker

Booker, playing for the Phoenix Suns is just 25 years old, and scored 70 points against the Celtics in 2017, when he was only 19. That made him the youngest NBA player to ever score over 60 points in a game. So far, that’s been his only over-60 game, but he’s still got time to keep it up.

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan had five over-60 games from 1985-1992 during his time with the Chicago Bulls. One of those came in a playoff game in the 1985 season, when he scored 63 over the Celtics, making him the player with the most points in a single playoff game. His highest scoring game was 69 points against the Cavaliers in 1989.

Pete Maravich

After Jordan, Maravich scored 68 points in a single game in 1976 when he played for the New Orleans Jazz. He helped defeat the Knicks 124-107 with that feat, which he accomplished only the once.

Rick Barry

Rick Barry also only accomplished the 60+ feat once in his career, in 1973 when the Warriors beat the Trailblazers and Barry put up 64 points.

George Gervin, Jerry West, and Joe Fulks

These players have all reached single-game highs of 63 points, only once.

Stephen Curry, Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady

These players have all reached single-game highs of 62 points, only once.

Damian Lillard

With the Trailblazers, Damian Lillard has accomplished 60 or more in a single game three times (61 twice and 60 once), all in the same season, 2019, making him the only player besides Chamberlain to do so in a single season. Chamberlain had 15 60+ games in his 1961 season, and nine in 1962.

James Harden

Harden has done it four times, scoring 61 twice and 60 twice with the Houston Rockets. He was the first player get a 60-point triple-double in NBA history.

LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone, George Mikan

These players have all reached single-game highs of 61 points, only once.

Kyrie Irving, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jayson Tatum, Bradley Beal, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, Gilbert Arenas, Allen Iverson, Tom Chambers, Larry Bird, Bernard King

These players have all reached single-game highs of 60 points, only once.