There are two words that make every basketball fan gleam with joy. Game. Seven. They are the two best words in the NBA, as it lets everyone know that the next game is do-or-die, and one team will see their season end in a possibly heartbreaking manner.
Game 7’s are exhilarating and one of the best parts about the playoffs. We saw a sensational Game 7 last season between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns in the second round, but this season, the delight came early. Stephen Curry made history with 50 points against the Sacramento Kings, setting a new Game 7 record for most points scored by an individual.
With Curry locking up the top spot with his performance against Sacramento, which are the nine performances he left in the dust with his legacy-defining performance?
10. Charles Barkley – 44 Points
1993 Western Conference Finals: Seattle SuperSonics vs. Phoenix Suns, 110-123
Game Stats: 44 PTS, 24 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TOV, 12-20 FG (60.0%), 1-1 3PT (100.0%), 19-22 FT (86.4%)
The best version of Charles Barkley in the NBA came in 1992-93 during his first season with the Phoenix Suns. Barkley was awarded regular season MVP that season and was tearing through the Western Conference until the Suns met their match in the Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton-led Seattle SuperSonics. With a berth in the NBA Finals on the line, Barkley led the Suns to a win with an incredible 44-point and 24-rebound performance. The Finals ended sourly for the Suns, as Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls completed their first three-peat by beating his best friend in the Finals.
9. Allen Iverson – 44 Points
2001 Eastern Conference Finals: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 91-108
Game Stats: 44 PTS, 6 REB, 7 AST, 2 STL, 2 TOV, 17-33 FG (51.5%), 4-6 3PT (66.7%), 6-7 FT (85.7%)
Allen Iverson’s 2000-01 season will be studied as arguably one of the greatest seasons for a guard in the NBA, as AI won the regular season MVP and went on a monster run in the playoffs. His first star-making test came in Game 7 of the 2001 Eastern Finals against the Ray Allen-led Milwaukee Bucks. Iverson stole the show, scoring 44 points on his own to overcome three 20-point scorers on Milwaukee’s side. Iverson went on to win just one more game in that playoff run, as he stopped the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Lakers from going 16-0 in the 2001 Playoffs.
8. LeBron James – 45 Points
2008 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics, 92-97
Game Stats: 45 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 2 TOV, 14-29 FG (48.3%), 3-11 3PT (27.3%), 14-19 FT (73.7%)
LeBron James was haunted by the Boston Celtics early in his career until he could extinguish those demons with the Miami Heat. Those same demons emanate from a tough second-round series against the newly formed Boston Celtics’ big three featuring Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. James did everything possible when the teams met in Game 7 in 2008 but the Cavaliers fell short even after James had scored 45 of the Cavs’ 92 points that night. This loss set the wheels in motion for LeBron’s decision to leave the Cavaliers in 2010. As a result, his best 45-point playoff performance against the Celtics wasn’t this loss, but a triumphant victory with the Heat a few seasons later. Thankfully, everyone eventually finds their way back home.
7. LeBron James – 45 Points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbYlMHaNt8s
2018 Eastern Conference First Round: Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 101-105
Game Stats: 45 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST, 4 STL, 4 TOV, 16-25 FG (64.0%), 2-3 3PT (66.7%), 11-15 FT (73.3%)
James found his way back home in 2014 and then won a championship in 2016 after his team was healthy and he was going against the 73-9 franchise that he just won a title. The level of single-handed carrying LeBron showed in this game and the series against the Pacers in 2018 will be forever remembered and appreciated. Those Pacers’ teams weren’t stacked with talent but were a deep roster led by Victor Oladipo. After posting big numbers throughout the series, LeBron took over in Game 7 and put up ridiculous numbers to avoid a disastrous first-round exit in what ended up being a Finals run and LeBron’s last season with the Cavs.
6. Kevin Johnson – 46 Points
1995 Western Conference Semi-Finals: Phoenix Suns vs. Houston Rockets, 115-114
Game Stats: 46 PTS, 3 REB, 10 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TOV, 12-26 FG (46.2%), 1-2 3PT (50.0%), 21-22 FT (95.5%)
Kevin Johnson is not the same marquee talent as most of the players on this list are, but he’s one of the most underrated guards of the 1990s. Even with Charles Barkley on the court, Johnson took charge of trying to complete a 3-1 series comeback against the eventual champions, the Houston Rockets. He scored 46 points in a do-or-die Game 7 by expertly getting to the line and converting 21 free throws. He put up a shotmaking clinic, trying to lead the Suns to the win. Sadly, they fell to a 1-point loss which ended their season and was the final strong season for the Barkley and Johnson era in Phoenix.
5. Luka Doncic – 46 Points
2021 Western Conference First Round: Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 111-126
Game Stats: 46 PTS, 7 REB, 14 AST, 6 TOV, 17-30 FG (56.7%), 5-11 3PT (45.5%), 7-11 FT (63.6%)
Luka Doncic is one of the premier young guards in the NBA right now but he’s sitting at home for the 2023 Playoffs as his Dallas Mavericks failed to qualify. In the years past when Doncic has taken the Mavs to the postseason, he’s excelled and has the second-highest scoring average in playoff history behind Michael Jordan (32.5 points in 28 played games). His defining performance came in 2021 when the Mavs faced title-contenders LA Clippers in the first round and took them to seven games, against all odds. Doncic did it all in Game 7, contributing to over 70 points through scoring and assists in the loss. Funnily, that series was the last time the Clippers had both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard healthy for a seven-game stretch.
4. Sam Jones – 47 Points
1963 Division Finals: Cincinnati Royals vs. Boston Celtics, 131-142
Game Stats: 47 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST, 18-27 FG (66.7%), 11-12 FT (91.7%)
The first name on this list whose Game 7 heroics ultimately led to his team winning the title is ’60s Celtics legend Sam Jones. In an era before steals, blocks, or turnovers were counted and before the 3-point line was even in use, Jones had the greatest Game 7 performance. Not much footage exists of the game, but Jones scored 47 on 27 shots while Bill Russell was the defensive anchor keeping the game in check. Oscar Robertson scored 43 points on the night for another one of the greatest Game 7 performances of all time, but Jones ultimately outmatched him and went on to win the title.
3. Dominique Wilkins – 47 Points
1988 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals: Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics, 116-118
Game Stats: 47 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 19-33 FG (57.6%), 1-2 3PT (50.0%), 8-9 FT (88.9%)
Dominique Wilkins is often remembered in the class of NBA legends that never won a title. We’ve seen some other names on this list with that dubious distinction like Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson. Just like them, Wilkins tried his best to win the postseason but fell short of better teams. up until 2021, Wilkins held the all-time Game 7 scoring record with 47 points in a losing effort to the Boston Celtics. Wilkins was wicked efficient and nothing that the Celtics threw at him fazed him. If he hit 50 and scored three more points, Wilkins and his Hawks would have been in the Conference Finals facing eventual champions Detroit Pistons, so there’s no guarantee he would have won. At least he could’ve gone one round further in the middle of his prime.
2. Kevin Durant – 48 Points
2023 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets, 115-111
Game Stats: 48 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TOV, 17-36 FG (47.2%), 4-11 3PT (36.4%), 10-11 FT (90.9%)
Kevin Durant put up one of the greatest individual performances in playoff history when he single-handedly forced the Milwaukee Bucks to seven games in the 2021 playoffs. Durant saw co-stars Kyrie Irving and James Harden miss most of the series to injuries and had to carry the team to beat Giannis Antetokounmpo. He would’ve done that if his foot wasn’t on the line on a game-winning three-pointer that was ruled a two-pointer and sent the game to OT. KD wouldn’t score a single point in OT after gassing out and being unable to compete with the same intensity. If that three-pointer went in, the Bucks don’t win the 2021 title and the Nets possibly do and KD would sit on this list with 49 points instead of 48. He held the Game 7 scoring record for two seasons until it was broken last night.
1. Stephen Curry – 50 Points
2023 Western Conference First Round: Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings, 120-100
Game Stats: 50 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 1 TOV, 20-38 FG (52.6%), 7-18 3PT (38.9%), 3-5 FT (60.0%)
Stephen Curry is going down in NBA history as one of the greatest playoff performers of all time and he added to his legacy last night. Playing on the road in Game 7 of a championship retention campaign against playoff minnows Sacramento Kings wasn’t going to be easy, but Curry proved everyone wrong. He scored the only 50-point game in Game 7 history and led his team to a dominant win over the Kings to keep their playoff dreams alive. This record may be toppled again in any of the Game 7’s we see this season, but it’ll not be easy. Curry has set a new standard for excellence in a Game 7 and all players in the league now and in the future can try and aspire to it.
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