High Quality Sports

What makes a great game? Is it a dagger in someone’s face? Is it a highlight dunk? Is it shooting 70% from the field? 10 three pointers? A buzzer beater against a division rival? For me, a truly great game can only happen in the playoffs. The competition has had rest, the opponent is at least a good team, if not a great one. The coaching staff has told their guys how to guard x, y, and z. And still, excellence is displayed.

I took a look at the best playoff games from the top guys in history and ranked them. My criteria was a combination of box score numbers, opponent difficulty, how deep in the playoff run the performance was, whether the game was in an elimination or closeout game, or a game 7, scoring efficiency and minutes played.

There were some very tough calls – how do you discern between Shaq’s 40 and 19 in the finals, and his 40 and 24 two days later? Do you take Olajuwon’s 49 and 25 (maybe the best box score in history) against Seattle in a round 1 loss or do you take his game 6 ascendency over Robinson in the Western Conference Finals over the MVP and the league’s best record? With some of these I’m not sure if there is a right or wrong answer but I generally favored tougher opponents in later rounds.

One thing I learned from this exercise is that most players – even the best superstars we have seen – really only have one or two massively dominant playoff runs. And most of their best games will be in the same series. This begs the question: Did they just get hot? Was it an easy matchup for them? Were they really better in that series or did hot shooting or maybe a weak defense help them look better? I think this is why weighting the later rounds more comes in. It’s less and less likely that a team in round 3 or 4 has a poor coach, can’t figure out a good scheme, or execute consistently. Sometimes the best athletes are in the zone, the flow state, which grants them the honor of being on my list.

NOTE: adjusted true shooting is given in parentheses after the raw TS number. This is relative to that opponent. So if the Clippers allowed 50% TS to the league that year and player X shot 70% TS for the game that would be (+20). West, Oscar, and early Kareem have estimates of this so could be +/- a few points. Games are listed 1-5 so the first game on the list is in my opinion their best, but to reiterate, these could change depending on the day you ask me. Players are in categories, they are NOT ranked so relax.

Physical beasts that the other team couldn’t handle:

Giannis Antetokounmpo:

Game 6, 2020 Finals vs PHX: 50/14/2/0/5 in 42MP on 75% (+18) TS in a closeout game

Game 7, 2021 ECS vs BKN: 40/13/5/0/1 in 50MP on 66% (+10) TS against Durant

Game 3, 2020 Finals vs PHX: 41/13/6/1/0 in 38MP on 67% (+10) TS

Game 6, 2022 ECS vs BOS: 44/20/6/1/1 in 41MP on 60% (+6) TS

Game 3, 2022 ECS vs BOS: 42/12/8/2/2 in 39MP on 60% (+6) TS

I actually have Durant in the same game as the 3rd best of his career. An epic dual where the victor cemented himself in history with a title run and Brooklyn fizzled out and broke up the team, in large part due to a shoe size. His 50 points is the most ever to close out a Finals series.

Charles Barkley:

Game 7, 1993 WCF: 44/24/1/1/1 in 46 MP on 74% (+20) TS to reach the finals

Game 3, 1993 WC 1st round: 56/14/4/3/1 in 41MP on 80% (+27) TS

Game 5, 1993 WCF: 43/15/10/2/2 in 47MP on 80% (+26) TS

Game 4, 1986 ECS vs MIL: 37/14/9 in 45MP on 73% (+20) TS

Game 2, 1993 Finals vs CHI: 42/13/4/1/1 in 67% (+13) TS

The game against Golden State in round 1 is the 2nd highest gamescore of any playoff game on record. The coach famously told him on the sidelines that they weren’t going to double him. Charles took issue with that and delivered a butt-pounding.

Karl Malone:

Game 5, 1998 Finals vs CHI: 39/9/5/1/1 in 44MP on 66% (+16) TS

Game 6, 1996 WCF vs SEA: 32/10/7/4/0 in 39MP on 62% (+9) TS

Game 1, 2000 WC 1st round vs SEA: 50/12/0/3/1 in 43MP on 66% (+13) TS

Game 3, 1992 WCF vs POR: 39/7/7/2/0 in 45MP on 68% (+16) TS

Game 4, 1992 WC1 vs LAC: 44/11/2/0/0 in 46MP on 77% (+25) TS

Malone is often maligned (and rightly so) for sucking cock in the playoffs. However, over his long career he had some bright spots – his game wasn’t quite the superstar portfolio it presented itself to be in the regular season – but he was still incredibly good. Due to social media and being a creep – we’ve relegated Malone as only a loser, choker, and little Mexican hunter. However, at times he came up clutch, eaking out a 2 point win against the Bulls in the 98 finals and being a one man gang bang against the sonics at age 37.

The Efficiency Gods:

Chris Paul:

Game 1, 2014 WCS vs OKC: 32/2/10/0/0 in 28MP on 114% (+62) TS

Game 6, 2021 WCF vs LAC: 41/4/8/3/0 in 35MP on 81% (+25) TS

Game 5, 2018 WCS vs UTA: 41/7/10/1/0 in 38MP on 80% (+26) TS

Game 6, 2022 WC1 vs NOP: 33/5/8/1/0 in 36MP on 105% (+47) TS

Game 7, 2015 WC1 vs SAS: 27/2/6/2/1 in 37MP on 92% (+39) TS to knock off the defending champs in round 1

Steve Nash:

Game 6, 2005 WCS vs DAL: 39/9/12/0/1 in 50MP on 73% TS

Game 4, 2005 WCS vs DAL: 48/5/5/3/1 in 43MP on 81% TS

Game 1, 2006 WC1 vs LAL: 32/2/13/0/0 in 46MP on 81% TS

Game 3, 2003 WCS vs SAC: 31/5/11/1/0 in 51MP on 74% (+25) TS

Game 5, 2005 WCS vs DAL: 34/13/12/1/0 in 42MP on 59% (+8) TS

Both known for their passing – these two offensive virtuosos were also capable of putting up gaudy scoring numbers while missing very few shots. Neither one gets the credit they deserve for routinely putting up great offenses in the regular and post season due to a lack of Ringzzz Erneh, but go through their playoff resumes and there will be plenty of brilliant performances.

The do-it-all guys

Magic Johnson:

Game 6, 1980 Finals vs PHI: 42/15/7/3/1 in 47MP on 72% (+21) TS

Game 2, 1987 Finals vs BOS: 22/5/20/3/0 in 31MP on 62% (+10) TS

Game 1, 1991 Finals vs CHI: 19/10/11/1/0 in 43MP on 101% (+48) TS

Game 2, 1988 WCF vs DAL: 15/4/19/2/0 in 37MP on 90% (+39) TS

Game 4, 1983 WCF vs SAS: 31/8/17/1/0 in 44MP on 75% (+22) TS

With Magic I’m actually partial to the games where he takes only a few shots and dominates with assists and insane true shooting in very few minutes. He just walks on to the floor and puts up a 138 Ortg and sits for the 4th. I actually opted for a game in his rookie year as the best of his career but 87-89 have many good candidate games.

Larry Bird:

Game 6, 1984 Finals vs LAL: 28/14/8/1/3 in 47MP on 84% (+31) TS

Game 2, 1986 Finals vs HOU: 31/8/7/4/2 in 44MP on 75% (+21) TS

Game 7, 1987 WCF vs DET: 37/9/9/0/2 in 48MP on 65% (+13) TS

Game 2, 1984 ECS vs NYK: 37/11/4/4/2 in 37MP on 78% (+24) TS

Game 7, 1984 ECS vs NYK: 39/12/10/3/0 in 42MP on 67% (+12) TS

I’m more partial to earlier versions of Bird (84-86) where he put up more swiss army knife stat lines over just a ton of points. Close out game of the 84 finals is exactly what I think of when I think of Larry Legend’s peak.

Nikola Jokic:

Game 4, 2023 WCS vs PHX: 53/4/11/0/1 on 74% (+17) TS

Game 1, 2023 WCF vs LAL: 34/21/14/0/2 in 42MP on 83% (+23) TS

Game 5, 2024 WCS vs MIN: 40/7/13/2/1 in 41MP on 77% TS. 0 TO vs a great defense

Game 6, 2019 WC1 vs SAS: 43/12/9/2/1 in 38MP on 68% (+12) TS

Game 6, 2023 WCS vs PHX: 32/10/12/3/1 in 38MP on 78% (+20) TS

Very tempted to include his 65MP performance in the 4OT game against Portland here simply for the lore. It’s funny how Jokic has the most Wilt-like stats but couldn’t be further from Wilt in terms of play style. The goofy serbian might be the best offensive player ever and he out dualed offensive greats like KD and bullied great defensive players Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis.

The guards that raise their game in the playoffs

Oscar Robertson:

Game 1, 1963 EDF vs BOS: 43/14/10 in 48MP on 71% (+22) TS

Game 7, 1963 EDF vs BOS: 43/6/6 in 48MP on 64% (+15) TS

Game 2, 1965 EDS vs PHI: 40/4/13 in 48MP on 80% (+31) TS

Game 4, 1971 Finals vs BAL: 30/3/9 in 38MP on 79% (+30) TS

Game 5, 1964 EDS vs PHI: 32/10/18 in 48MP on 79% (+36) TS

Oscar had Wilt like minutes played numbers. Despite leading the league in offensive rating 9 times, the Royals rarely advanced in the playoffs. It wasn’t for lack of greatness from the big O, who dominated in games against both Wilt and Russell. He finally reached Valhalla in 71 alongside Kareem, shining in g4.

Dwyane Wade:

Game 6, 2006 Finals vs DAL: 36/10/5/4/3 in 45MP on 66% TS

Game 4, 2010 EC1 vs BOS: 46/5/5/2/0 in 43MP on 76% (+22) TS

Game 3, 2006 Finals vs DAL: 42/13/2/2/0 in 43MP on 62% (+9) TS

Game 4, 2006 ECF vs DET: 31/6/5/2/2 in 44MP on 80% (+29) TS

Game 2, 2011 Finals vs DAL: 36/5/6/3/1 in 42MP on 71% (+18) TS

His 06 finals performance is legendary but even more statistically impressive is his 06 trouncing of the Pistons who had just been to two finals and winning one. he also had the ultimate hero game with a shit supporting cast in 2010 and was clearly the best player on the floor in 2011 – a 2nd FMVP slipped out of reach but his game 2 definitely deserves credit.

Jerry West:

Game 1, 1969 Finals vs BOS: 53/3/10 in 46MP on 57% (+8) TS

Game 7, 1969 Finals vs BOS: 43/13/12 in 48MP on 57% (+8) TS – Finals MVP but not the W

Game 3, 1965 Finals vs BOS: 43/12/7 in 44MP on 64% (+16) TS

Game 4, 1970 Finals vs NYK: 37/5/18 in 52MP on 59% (+8) TS

Game 2, 1965 EDF vs BAL: 52/5/9 on 55% (+8) TS. Minutes not given

Keep in mind with West, not only was he a scoring machine in the post season but he was white hot against the best defenses of all time in Russell’s Celtics. The best defenses had absolutely no effect on the Logo.

Steph and Kobe: I’m gonna get a lot of heat here but these guys have a near infinite collection of gems in the regular season yet have very few signature dominant series in the playoffs. Kobe’s peak as a player was 08 and 09 but his best playoff series were in 01, in large part because Shaq was taking most of the teams game plan. It was really hard to find Kobe’s best playoff game. He has plenty of excellent games, but no absolute gangbusters GOAT status games. Steph had the GOAT season lined up in 2016 but then had the worst series of his life in the finals…go figure. Don’t worry, I was still able to find some gems.

Mamba:

Game 4, 2001 WCS vs SAC: 48/16/3/2/1 in 48MP on 64% (+14) TS

Game 2, 2008 WCS vs DEN: 49/4/10/1/1 in 42MP on 79% (+26) TS

Game 4, 2004 WCS vs SAS: 42/6/5/3/1 in 45MP on 64% (+16) TS

Game 6, WC1 vs PHX: 50/8/5/3/0 in 52MP on 66% (+14) TS losing in a close-out game

Game 1, 2001 WCF vs SAS: 45/10/3/1/1 in 47MP on 58% (+10) TS

Chef:

Game 7, 2023 WC1 vs SAC: 50/8/6/1/0 in 38MP on 62% (+2) TS

Game 3, 2019 Finals vs TOR: 47/8/7/2/0 in 43MP on 63% (+9) TS

Game 1, 2019 WC1 vs LAC: 38/15/7/0/1 in 37MP on 95% (+40) TS

Game 4, 2022 Finals vs BOS: 43/10/4/0/0 in 41MP on 72% (+18) TS

Game 4, 2018 Finals vs CLE: 37/6/4/3/3 in 39MP on 62% (+6) TS

Dr. J and Kevin Durant:

The Dr:

I had to include his ABA performances, frankly theres no NBA games he has that compare. Some of the data is a bit limited

Game 3, 1972 EDS vs FLO: 53/14 on 80% TS

Game 2, 1976 Finals vs DNA: 48/14/8 in 45MP on 76% TS

Game 3, 1979 ECS vs SAS: 39/9/6/4/4 in 42MP on 69% TS

Game 1, 1976 Finals vs DNA: 45/12/4 in 43MP on 75% TS

Game 6, 1976 Finas vs DNA: 31/19/5/5/4 in 45MP on 60% TS

Durantula:

Game 5, 2021 ECS vs MIL: 49/17/10/3/2 in 48MP on 82% (+25) TS

Game 3, 2018 Finals vs CLE: 43/13/7/1/1 in 43MP on 82% (+26) TS

Game 7, 2021 ECS vs MIL: 48/9/6/1/1 in 53MP on 59% (+2) TS

Game 6, 2019 WC1 vs LAC: 50/6/5/1/1 in 42MP on 77% (+21) TS

Game 2, 2017 Finals vs CLE: 33/13/6/3/5 in 41MP on 71% (+16) TS

2017 was probably peak Durant but its hard for me to rank those games against CLE as the best when the entire defense was running to Steph at the 3 point line and letting KD walk down the lane. I could easily see his 2 and 5 games as 1 and 2 depending on how you look at it but I like the old guard finesse player vs the rising hungry physical beast matchup we got post COVID in the 2021 Eastern semis. The shoe size game was actually not nearly as good as game 5 where he hit 82% true shooting and had 17 rebounds! He was also crazy good in the 2012 finals run. Hard to pick just 5.

The underrated bigs:
The Admiral:

Game 1, 1991 WC1 vs GSW: 30/13/1/0/8 in 33MP on 90% (+35) TS

Game 2, 1996 WC1 vs PHX: 40/21/1/2/3 in 42MP on 62% (+11) TS

Game 5, 1995 WCS vs LAL: 34/17/4/2/4 in 52MP on 58% (+4) TS

Game 3, 1990 WCS vs POR: 28/8/4/0/8 in 37 MP on 80% (+27) TS

Game 3, WCF vs HOU: 29/9/4/4/1 in 45MP on 77% (+24) TS

Big Ticket:

Game 7, 2004 WCS vs SAC: 32/21/2/4/5 in 46MP on 58% (+5) TS – the perfect KG game. Contributed to all categories while playing nearly the whole game in a do or die G7!

Game 2, 2003 WC1 vs LAL: 35/20/7/2/1 in 43MP on 74% (+24) TS

Game 5, 2004 WCF vs LAL: 30/19/4/1/1 in 46MP on 54% (+2) TS

Game 2, 2004 WCS vs SAC: 28/11/4/1/6 in 63 MP on 63% (+11) TS

Game 6, 2008 Finals vs LAL: 26/14/4/3/1 in 36MP on 62% (+9) TS

Dominant Big Men:

Hakeem Olajuwon:

Game 6, 1995 WCF vs SAS: 39/17/3/2/5 in 47MP on 68% (+16) TS

Game 6, 1987 WCS vs SEA: 49/25/2/2/6 in 53MP on 63% (+9) TS – maybe the sexiest box score ever

Game 2, WC 1st round vs DAL: 41/26/2/3/4 in 43MP on 62% (+10) TS

Game 5, 1995 WCF vs SAS: 42/9/8/1/5 in 44MP on 64% (+11) TS

Game 1, 1986 WCS vs DEN: 38/16/4/6/5 in 44MP on 66% (+12) TS

Shaquille O’Neal:

Game 1, 2000 Finals vs IND: 43/19/4/0/3 in 44MP on 64% (+13) TS

Game 2, 2002 Finals vs NJN: 40/12/8/0/1 in 41MP on 69% (+18) TS

Game 2, 2000 Finals vs IND: 40/24/4/0/3 in 45MP on 57% (+6) TS

Game 4, 1998 WCS vs SEA: 39/8/7/0/5 in 37MP on 77% (+25) TS

Game 1, 2001 WCS vs SAC: 44/21/4/0/7 in 44MP on 55% (+14) TS

Tim Duncan:

Game 1, 2003 Finals vs NJN: 32/20/6/3/7 in 44MP on 69% (+19) TS

Game 6, 2003 Finals vs NJN: 21/20/10/0/8 in 46MP on 50% (-1) TS

Game 4, 1999 WCS vs LAL: 33/14/4/0/1 in 44MP on 82% (+30) TS to close out LA

Game 3, 1999 WCS vs LAL: 37/14/4/3/1 in 45MP on 64% (+12) TS

Game 1, 1999 Finals vs NYK: 33/16/2/2/2 in 43MP on 65% (+16) TS

Wilt:

Game 5, 1960 EDF vs BOS: 50/35/2 in 46MP on 52% (+9) TS

Game 5, 1967 EDF vs BOS: 29/36/13 in 47MP on 62% (+15) TS

Game 6, 1970 Finals vs NYK: 45/27/3 in 46MP on 68% (+20) TS

Game 5, 1962 EDS vs SYR: 56/35/1 in 48MP on 49% (+2) TS in a do or die G5

Game 5, 1964 EDS vs STL: 50/15/6 in 45MP on 69% (+21) TS

Although Wilt has some generally large dropoff from reg season to playoffs, he still has quite a few brilliant performances where his efficiency held up. Games 1 and 3 he faced elimination and game 2 was a close out game to beat Russell en route to a title.

Bill Russell:

Game 7, 1962 Finals vs LAL: 30/40/4 in 53MP on 59% (+11) TS – arguably the greatest game ever played

Game 5, 1961 Finals vs STL: 30/38/3 in 48MP on 59% (+15) TS

Game 2, 1965 Finals vs LAL: 23/25/10 in 48MP on 84% (+35) TS

Game 5, 1965 Finals vs LAL: 22/30/4 in 42MP on 77% (+28) TS

Game 5, 1966 Finals vs LAL: 32/28/4 in 48MP on 61% (+12) TS

He has any number of clutch performances, he’s 10-0 in G7s. Almost all of these are vs LAL but I included them because he’s winning against teams with multiple HOFers.

GOAT Scorers:

Dirk Nowitzki:

Game 1, 2011 WCF vs OKC: 48/6/4/0/4 in 41MP on 94% (+40) TS

Game 5, 2006 WCF vs PHX: 50/12/3/1/0 in 43MP on 74% (+21) TS

Game 7, 2006 WCS vs SAS: 37/15/3/1/1 in 50MP on 69% (+18) TS

Game 5, 2001 WCS vs SAS: 42/18/2/6/1 in 47MP on 66% (+17) TS

Game 3, 2003 WC1 vs POR: 42/10/3/2/1 in 47MP on 88% (+35) TS

Game 1, 2003 WC1 vs POR: 46/10/2/1/1 in 48MP on 71% (+20) TS

48 points on 15 field goal attempts is one of the all time best performances en route to a title. The 06 run beating the defending champ Spurs who had a decent power forward of their own and MVP Nash with a 50 piece doesn’t get enough credit due to his lackluster finals performance.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:

Game 5, 1980 Finals vs PHI: 40/15/1/0/4 in 41MP on 72% (+21) TS

Game 6, 1972 WCF vs LAL: 37/25/8 in 48MP on 47% (+0) TS – losing an epic battle with Wilt(20/24/2) playing every minute

Game 2, 1977 WCS vs GSW: 40/19/3/3/9 in 40MP on 65% (+14) TS

Game 6, 1977 WCS vs GSW: 43/20/3/0/4 in 41MP on 72% (+21) TS

Game 1, 1971 Finals vs BAL: 31/17/0 in 33MP on 85% (+36) TS
His best series was probably the conf semis against Golden State. I opted for a finals game to put them up 3-2 for the Lakers first title in their legendary 80s run. He also absolutely dominated his first finals game putting up 31/17 in just 33 minutes on 13 of 16 shooting.

Michael Jordan:

Game 4, 1993 Finals vs PHX: 55/8/4/0/0 in 46MP on 61% (+8) TS

Game 3, 1989 ECF vs DET: 46/7/5/5/0 in 45MP on 71% (+19) TS

Game 3, 1990 ECF vs DET: 47/10/4/1/0 in 43MP on 62% (+11) TS

Game 2, 1986 EC1 vs BOS: 63/5/6/3/2 in 53MP on 63% (+12) TS

Game 4, 1993 ECF vs NYK: 54/6/2/2/1 in 39MP on 75% (+24) TS

MJs were hard to select as he has so many 40+ point performances against a wide variety of opponents. I opted for the games against iconic opponents. 55 against Barkley in the finals, two great games vs back to back champ Pistons, 63 against an all time Celtics team and 54 in the garden against a top 5 defense ever, not bad.

LeBron James:

Game 6, 2012 ECF vs BOS: 45/15/5/0/0 in 45MP on 75% (+25) TS

Game 1, 2018 Finals vs GSW: 51/8/8/1/1 in 48MP on 69% (+15) TS

Game 6, 2016 Finals vs GSW: 41/8/11/4/3 in 43MP on 67% (+15) TS

Game 5, 2007 ECF vs DET: 48/9/7/2/0 in 50MP on 61% (+9) TS

Game 7, 2013 Finals vs SAS: 37/12/4/2/0 in 45MP on 70% (+18) TS

I opted for the death stare LeBron meme over potentially the greatest game ever played but resulted in the JR Smith meme game for the top spot. 48 Special in Detroit when he was 21 also had to make the list. I think Game 7 of the 2013 finals is very overlooked. Game sealing bucket in Kawhi’s face, playing nearly the whole game and putting up 37 and 12 on insane efficiency in a finals game 7! Plenty of other options with LBJ but I’m quite happy with this top 5.