NBA: List Of Teams With The Record Of Highest Points In A Game

NBA teams’ methods of scoring points have evolved throughout time, with the 3-pointer revolutionizing speedy scoring for teams on the go. Nonetheless, there were teams that were able to score a lot of points even before the 3-ball became commonplace.

Which team has the most points ever scored in an NBA game? Here is a look back at a few single-game records that could hold up over time.

Two teams have already scored more than 150 points in regulation: the Celtics defeated the Pacers 155 times on November 1st, and the Pacers defeated the Spurs 152 times on November 6th. However, both totals are well short of shattering the NBA record.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1720443723039850922

The Pistons established the regular-season record on December 13, 1983, with 186 points scored by a team in an NBA game.

Detroit set a record in a triple-overtime marathon, winning by two points over Denver, which now ranks second all-time in points scored in a game with 184. In 1990, the Suns defeated the Nuggets by 30 points, tying the record for most points scored in regulation with 173 points.

The Boston Celtics created NBA playoff history on April 28, 1990, when they set a mark that has been unbroken for nearly 33 years.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1721752799996711099

In their 157-128 victory over the New York Knicks in the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Celtics set the record for the most points scored by a team in an NBA playoff game.

Here is a list of the highest-scoring team performances in NBA history:

Rank Total points Teams Date
1. 186 Detroit Pistons vs. Denver Nuggets (3OT) Dec. 13, 1983
2. 184 Denver Nuggets vs. Detroit Pistons (3OT) Dec. 13, 1983
3. 176 Sacramento Kings vs. LA Clippers (2OT) Feb. 24, 2023
4. 175 LA Clippers vs. Sacramento Kings (2OT) Feb. 24, 2023
5. 173 Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets Nov. 10, 1990
173 Boston Celtics vs. Minneapolis Lakers Feb. 27, 1959
7. 171 San Antonio Spurs vs. Milwaukee Bucks (3OT) March 6, 1982
8. 169 Philadelphia Warriors vs. New York Knicks March 2, 1962
9. 168 Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks (4OT) March 1, 2019
168 Denver Nuggets vs. Seattle Supersonics March 16, 2008

Most points scored in an NBA game

Here are the 10 highest-scoring games in NBA history:

Rank Total Points Game Result Date
1. 370 Detroit Pistons 186, Denver Nuggets 184 (3OT) Dec. 13, 1983
2. 351 Sacramento Kings 176, LA Clippers 175 (2OT) Feb. 24, 2023
3. 337 San Antonio Spurs 171, Milwaukee Bucks 166 (3OT) March 6, 1982
4. 329 Chicago Bulls 168, Atlanta Hawks 161 (4OT) March 1, 2019
5. 320 Golden State Warriors 162, Denver Nuggets 158 Nov. 2, 1990
6. 318 Denver Nuggets 163, San Antonio Spurs 155 Jan. 11, 1984
318 Phoenix Suns 161, New Jersey Nets 157 (2OT) Dec. 7, 2006
8. 317 Houston Rockets 159, Washington Wizards 158 Oct. 30, 2019
9. 316 Philadelphia Warriors 169, New York Knicks 147 March 2, 1962
316 Cincinnati Royals 165, San Diego Rockets 151 March 12, 1970
316 Phoenix Suns 173, Denver Nuggets 143 Nov. 10, 1990

Most points in a half in NBA history

First half

Rank Team Points Date Opponent
1 Suns 107 Nov. 10, 1990 Nuggets
2 Warriors 92 Oct. 29, 2018 Bulls
3 Nets 91 Dec. 21, 2022 Warriors
4 Nuggets 90 Nov. 7, 1990 Spurs
Rockets 90 Nov. 16, 2017 Suns
6 Royals 89 March 12, 1970 Rockets
Lakers 89 Jan. 2, 1987 Suns
Warriors 89 Oct. 23, 2022 Kings
9 Warriors 88 Nov. 2, 1991 Kings
Bucks 88 Jan. 28, 2020 Wizards

Second half

The record for the highest-scoring second half in NBA history belongs to the Hawks, who scored 97 points in the third and fourth quarters to cruise to a 24-point win over the Rockets.

Rank Team Points Date Opponent
1 Hawks 97 Feb. 11, 1970 Rockets
2 76ers 95 Dec. 20, 1967 SuperSonics
3 Rockets 94 Jan. 10, 1991 Nuggets
4 Celtics 91 Nov. 11, 1959 Royals
Celtics 91 Feb. 10, 1960 Pistons
Nationals 91 Jan. 13, 1963 Pistons
Lakers 91 Nov. 23, 1966 Bulls
Lakers 91 March 19, 1972 Warriors
Spurs 91 Jan. 11, 1984 Nuggets
10 Celtics 90 Feb. 27, 1959 Lakers
Warriors 90 March 2, 1962 Knicks
Celtics 90 Feb. 25, 1970 Rockets
76ers 90 March 19, 1971 Royals

 

 

FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE- 

Take A Look: List Of Players Scoring Most Points In A NBA Game