Ayrton Oneill
The highest-scoring NBA game ever was between the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets on December 13, 1983, with a combined score of 370 points. The Pistons defeated the Nuggets 186-184 in a record-breaking triple-overtime game. Four players scored over 40 points, including the Nuggets' Kiki VanDeWeghe with a game-high 51 points. The highest-scoring playoff game was between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns on May 11, 1992, with a combined score of 304 points, but neither team scored over 153 points.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Highest score by a single player in a national team | 116 points by Lou Salvador from the Philippines |
| Highest score in worldwide organized basketball history | 272 points by Mats Wermelin of Sweden |
| Highest score by a female basketball player | 136 points by Anat Draigor of Israel |
| Players with multiple 100-point games | Bevo Francis, Jack Taylor, and Marin Ferenčević |
| Date of the first 100-point game in the US | March 2, 1962, by Wilt Chamberlain |
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What You'll Learn
The highest-scoring NBA game
This game took place just five years after the introduction of the three-point line in the NBA, and it is notable that both teams combined for only two three-pointers. Instead, the high score was due to the quality of the offences on display and the fast pace of the game. The Nuggets had seven players score in double figures, while the Pistons had six. Kiki VanDeWeghe of the Nuggets finished with 51 points, while teammate Alex English scored 47. Dan Issel contributed 28 points, and the Nuggets' bench played a key role in keeping the game close. For the Pistons, the top scorers were Isiah Thomas with 47 points, John Long with 35, and Bill Laimbeer with 34.
Another notable high-scoring game in NBA history took place on March 1, 2019, between the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks. This game required four overtimes to decide a winner, with the Bulls eventually coming out on top 168-161, a combined total of 329 points. The Spurs and Bucks played out another high-scoring game less than three months after the Pistons-Nuggets contest, with the Spurs winning 171-158 in triple overtime.
While the Pistons-Nuggets game remains the highest-scoring in NBA history, modern NBA games have seen teams make many more three-pointers, with the increase in analytics and emphasis on efficiency leading to more three-point shooting.
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The highest-scoring NBA playoff game
This game is also notable for being the highest-scoring playoff game in NBA history, with the second-highest taking place on April 26, 1983, between the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets. The Spurs defeated the Nuggets 152-133, with a combined score of 285 points.
It is worth noting that the highest-scoring regular-season game in NBA history took place between the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets on December 13, 1983. The Pistons won 186-184, with a combined score of 370 points. This game also holds the record for the most points scored by one team (186) and the most points scored by a losing team (184).
More recently, on February 24, 2023, the Sacramento Kings and LA Clippers played a double-overtime thriller that saw the Kings score 176 points, the third-most in NBA history. Despite this, the Clippers emerged victorious with a final score of 175-176.
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The highest-scoring NBA game in regulation
On November 2, 1990, the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets played the highest-scoring regular-season game in regulation in NBA history. The final score was 162-158 in favour of the Warriors. The Warriors' Chris Mullin scored a game-high 38 points.
The Denver Nuggets have been participants in four of the ten highest-scoring regular-season games in NBA history. They were coached by Doug Moe from 1980 to 1990 and Paul Westhead from 1990 to 1992, both of whom employed a run-and-gun offensive strategy, which focuses on attempting a high number of field goals while also conceding a large number of points on defense.
The highest-scoring regular-season game in NBA history occurred on December 13, 1983, between the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets. The Pistons defeated the Nuggets 186-184 in a game that went to triple overtime. The two teams combined for 370 points, which is an NBA record. An NBA-record four players scored over 40 points in the game, including the Nuggets' Kiki Vandeweghe with a game-high 51.
The highest-scoring playoff game in regulation occurred when the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Denver Nuggets with a score of 152-133 for a combined score of 285 points on April 26, 1983. In that game, the Spurs' George Gervin scored a game-high 42 points.
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The highest-scoring NCAA game
The highest-scoring game in NCAA history took place on January 12, 1992, between Troy State University (now Troy University) and DeVry University of Atlanta. Troy State defeated DeVry in this game with a score of 258–141. Jon Bois, in a 2017 video essay, argued that the correct score should be 253–141.
This game is considered to have established several unbreakable records. Troy State set single-game records for points (258), points in a half (135), field goals made and attempted (102/190), rebounds (94), assists (65), and total combined points for two teams. They also set the record for most three-point attempts with 109.
The high-scoring game was a result of Troy State's unconventional offense-oriented system, which led to incredibly high-scoring games. That season, Troy State led Division II with a 121.0 points per game scoring average (also giving up 107.8 per game).
It is worth noting that Loyola Marymount was involved in five of the highest-scoring games in NCAA history, with the Lions leading the NCAA in points scored per game and points allowed per game from 1988 to 1990.
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The highest-scoring NCAA March Madness game
The highest-scoring game in NCAA March Madness history took place on March 18, 1990, when Loyola Marymount beat Michigan by a final score of 149-115, totalling 264 points. This score is far ahead of the second-highest total of 234 points, also achieved by Loyola Marymount.
Loyola Marymount's 149 points remain an NCAA tournament record, with the next highest point total being 131, scored by UNLV against Loyola Marymount in the 1990 NCAA tournament. Loyola Marymount's historic 1990 victory over Michigan was the culmination of a three-year period, from 1988-1990, in which the team led the NCAA in points scored per game and points allowed per game. During this period, Loyola Marymount played in the five highest-scoring NCAA men's basketball tournament games of all time.
In the 1990 game, Loyola Marymount's Jeff Fryer was the leading scorer with 41 points, followed by Bo Kimble's 37 points. Terrell Lowery posted 23 points off the bench, while Per Stumer and Tom Peabody also scored in double figures with 21 and 14 points, respectively. Loyola Marymount's victory over Michigan was particularly impressive given the team had experienced tragedy two weeks earlier when star player Hank Gathers collapsed and died on the court due to a heart condition. The team honoured Gathers by wearing number 44 patches on their jerseys.
Michigan, the defending champions, had six future NBA players on their roster. Six Wolverines scored in double figures, led by Terry Mills and Rumeal Robinson with 23 points each, and Loy Vaught with 19 points and 17 rebounds.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the highest single-game total in worldwide organized basketball history is 272 points, scored by a 13-year-old boy named Mats Wermelin of Sweden.
Mats Wermelin recorded every single point in his team's 272-0 win on February 5, 1974, during a regional boys' tournament held in Stockholm.
The highest total by a female basketball player worldwide is 136, scored by 46-year-old Anat Draigor of Israel on April 5, 2006.
