What is the highest score of all-time in an NBA Finals game?
When it comes to high-scoring games in the NBA Finals, there are a few games in history where two teams involved simply forgot how to miss and it was epic.
You don’t normally expect games during the NBA Playoffs to be extremely high-scoring, with defenses being tighter and players more focused. Yet, every now and then you get two teams who basically trade blows all night, and the results can be eye-opening.
What is the highest-scoring NBA Finals game of all time?
If we’re going to go down this road, then the first on the list is without doubt Game 1 of the 1967 NBA Finals. A veritable ‘basketfest,’ in which the Philadelphia 76ers and the then San Francisco Warriors put up a combined total of 276 points. In the end, the Warriors came out on top in overtime to win the game 141-135. Played at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, the teams put 73 points on the board in the first quarter — if you can believe it. For perspective, six of the players who participated in the series are now Hall of Famers: Wilt Chamberlain, Billy Cunningham, Hal Greer and Chet Walker for the Sixers, and Rick Barry and Nate Thurmond for the Warriors.
Yet, the best part in all of this is that neither team shot over 50% from the field AND this was actually before the 3-point line was introduced — that happened in the 1979-80 season. Think about that for a moment. The 76ers took 140 shots, while the Warriors attempted 116. Surprisingly, Wilt Chamberlain had a quiet night with just 16 points on eight attempts, although he grabbed an absurd 33 rebounds. The highest scorer for Philly was Hal Greer with 32 points, and for the Warriors, Rick Barry led with 37 points on 14-of-43 shooting.
| Rank | NBA Finals | Winner | Loser | Combined Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Game 1, 1967 | 76ers (141) | Warriors (135) | 276 (overtime) |
| 2 | Game 2, 1987 | Lakers (141) | Celtics (122) | 263 |
| 3 | Game 1, 1985 | Celtics (148) | Lakers (114) | 262 |
| 4 | Game 1, 1966 | Lakers (133) | Celtics (129) | 262 (overtime) |
| 5 | Game 1, 1960 | Celtics (140) | Hawks (122) | 262 |
What’s the highest-scoring NBA game in the modern era?
The modern game has seen improved defense, new rules and strategies, which usually lead to lower scores. That said, a few games have broken the mold. One standout remains Game 4 of the 2017 Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, where they combined for 253 points.
The Cavs scored 49 points in the first quarter, leading to a Finals-record 86 points in the first half. With LeBron James and Kyrie Irving on the floor, it was expected. Irving shined with 40 points on 15-of-26 shooting.
Still, it wasn’t enough. Despite the offensive explosion, the Warriors, led by Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, won the series in five games.
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