Christmas Day is always a special day for sports fans and the NBA. Players like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant all make it a special one to remember with their huge performances on Christmas Day in previous years. Who has been the best so far? Here are 10 players that have scored high points in this year’s games.
The “most points scored on christmas nba all-time” is a list of the 10 players with the most points scored in a single game on Christmas Day.
In the NBA these days, playing on Christmas means your club is considered a premier team in the league. There’s a reason why certain teams play every year and others have never played at all during the Christmas season. As a result, on Christmas Day, ten clubs compete in a total of five games in today’s league.
There have been some notable moments on the court in the past. These athletes are giving up their holiday to amuse us on the basketball floor while everyone else is unwrapping gifts and keeping warm at home. Some players, like Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, have done it many times, while others, like Bernard King, have a nearly four-decade record.
Is there a chance that a player may crack the top ten this holiday season? The top ten most points scored on a single Christmas Day are shown below.
Jerry West is ranked 10th with 44 points (1965 vs. Pistons)
On Christmas Day in 1965, the Los Angeles Lakers faced a difficult job against the Detroit Pistons. The squad came into the game with a 9-22 record, while the Lakers had a 20-16 record. As a result, the Lakers relied on 44 points from West to defeat the Pistons 115-106. West connected on 18 of 32 field goals, including eight of nine free throws.
With a triple-double, West came close to making the day a Christmas special. West had 44 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists to go along with his 44 points. Eddie Miles led the Pistons with 35 points in a thrilling back-and-forth. Walt Hazzard scored 19 points for the Lakers.
Kevin Durant (44 points) is the ninth best player in the NBA (2010 vs. Nuggets)
Kevin Durant, then a rookie, was coming off a season in which he had won the scoring championship. Durant put on a show against the Nuggets on Christmas Day, scoring 44 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. Russell Westbrook scored 19 points for the Thunder, while James Harden scored 21 points off the bench. The Thunder won 114-106 against the Nuggets.
Chauncey Billups’ 30 points and Ty Lawson’s 19 points kept the Nuggets in the contest. Durant, on the other hand, was the only player who played 40 minutes or more and hit 14 of his 20 shots. As a result, the Thunder moved to 21-10 on the season, making 12 of 15 free throws.
Dominique Wilkins (45 points) is ranked eighth (1987 vs. 76ers)
The 76ers had a.500 record going into the game, but with Maurice Cheeks and Charles Barkley on the roster, there was plenty of hope for a big performance. The Hawks hoped to improve their record to ten games above.500. Doc Rivers had a double-double of 19 points and 11 assists, with most of his passes going to Wilkins, the Hawks’ tough big man inside, as the Hawks beat the 76ers 106-100.
Wilkins made 17 of 28 field-goal attempts, including an even better 11 of 12 free-throw attempts. Wilkins added nine rebounds to his stat line. The 76ers led the Hawks 31-17 after the first quarter, but the Hawks overcame the early disadvantage with a 34-25 third quarter.
Tom Heinsohn is ranked 7th with 45 points (1961 vs. Nationals)
The Syracuse Nationals came into the game with a 13-18 record, but they gave the Boston Celtics (who entered the game with a 25-4 record) all they could handle. On Christmas, the Celtics barely defeated the Nationals 127-122, with Heinsohn making a significant contribution. Heinsohn made 19 of 32 shots, including seven of nine free throws, according to the records.
Heinsohn made one-third of the team’s shots and took one-fifth of them for the Celtics, who made 52 shots and took 115. Six players scored in double figures for the Nationals, including four players who scored 18 points or more. In the end, it was Heinsohn’s practically solo performance that triumphed.
Wilt Chamberlain, No. 6 (45 points) (1959 vs. Nationals)
Wilt Chamberlain and Paul Arizin teamed together to give Christmas audiences one of the finest basketball duos in NBA history. Chamberlain led the way with 45 points in a 129-121 victory against the Syracuse Nationals, while Arizin chipped in with 29 points. They combined for 26 of the field’s 44 shots.
Chamberlain could have earned more if he had made more free throws, but he only made 15 of 24 attempts. To go along with his 34 rebounds, he also shot 15 of 33 from the field. Syracuse’s Dick Barnett led the team with 27 points, but no one could match Chamberlain’s entire performance.
Tracy McGrady (46 points) is in fifth place (2002 vs. Pistons)
One may have anticipated Grant Hill to steal the show at this point, but it was McGrady who concluded with the fifth-best Christmas Day performance in NBA history. McGrady was so good that Mike Miller, who had 15 points, was the team’s second-highest scorer. In a 104-99 victory against the Pistons, McGrady hit 14 of 26 shots and 18 of 21 free-throw attempts.
The Pistons were led by Richard Hamilton, who scored 22 points, and Chauncey Billups, who had a double-double of 10 points and 13 assists. The Pistons shot 8% better than the Magic as a team, but McGrady led the team to victory by shooting better than practically everyone on the court.
4. Jerry West has a total of 47 points (1963 vs. Knicks)
(Photo courtesy of NBA.com)
Even though the Knicks were 17 games below.500, the New York club was still expected to be a major player at Christmas. Players like Bill McGill, Art Heyman, and Bob Boozer stepped up for the Knicks, but they fell short 134-126 to the Lakers. West’s superb scoring performance, in which he scored 47 points on 19 of 30 shots from the field, including 9 of 11 from the free-throw line, was a big part of it.
West is one of just two players to score in the top ten on Christmas Day. West had the superior overall squad, with Elgin Baylor scoring 27 points and Rudy LaRusso scoring 10. Finally, West has earned a reputation as one of the top scorers in league history. It was the same during Christmas.
Rick Barry, 3rd place – 50 points (1966 vs. Royals)
On Christmas, just three players have ever scored 50 points or more. Barry’s third-best performance came against the Cincinnati Royals with the San Francisco Warriors. The Royals were below.500, but Oscar Robertson, who led the team with 38 points, was one of the top players on the court as an individual. Barry’s 50 points, on the other hand, guided the Warriors to a 124-112 victory against Cincinnati.
Barry hit 19 of 35 shots overall, including 12 of 13 free throws. For his 21 points and 27 rebounds, Nate Thurmond gets an honorable mention. Barry may have taken one-third of the team’s shots on his own in the end, but he demonstrated that he could lead his team to victory.
Wilt Chamberlain is ranked second with 59 points (1961 vs. Knicks)
This may be one of the greatest back-and-forth Christmas matches ever. Richie Guerin scored 40 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who entered the game with a 9-24 record. Guerin was firing on all cylinders, making 15 of 28 field goal attempts. Even though Chamberlain established a new record for Christmas Day points, it wasn’t enough.
The Knicks defeated the Warriors 136-135, despite Chamberlain’s 59 points on 23 of 44 shooting, including 13 of 22 from the free-throw line. For New York, Willie Naulis had 33 points and 24 rebounds, while Johnny Green had 16 points and 24 rebounds. Despite Chamberlain’s 36 rebounds, the Knicks were able to grin as they celebrated Christmas.
Bernard King is ranked first with 60 points (1984 vs. Nets)
It’s been 37 years since King established the point record on Christmas Day. King barely surpassed Chamberlain’s record, but his day was marred by defeat, much like Chamberlain’s. Michael Ray Richardson scored 37 points to lead the Nets to a 120-114 victory against the Knicks. At halftime, the Knicks led 64-54, but the Nets came back to win.
King gave the Knicks his all, hitting 19 of 30 shots from the field and 22 of 26 from the free-throw line. With 13 points, Rory Sparrow and Pat Cummings tied for second place on the team. Even though the game ended in a defeat, the game strategy was to get the ball to King.
Next
Kevin Durant’s Career Record Against NBA Superstars: LeBron James and Kobe Bryant Have Winning Records Against Kevin Durant
In the history of the Philadelphia 76ers, the following are the top ten scorers: Wilt Chamberlain is 0.01 points better than Allen Iverson.
The Legend Of Jerry West And How He Became The NBA’s Logo
Who Deserves To Be On The NBA All-Star Teams For 2021-22?
Predictions for the NBA Awards in 2021-22: Steph Curry Will Be The MVP, Evan Mobley Will Be A Future Star
The “nba christmas trivia” is a list of 10 players with the most points scored in a single game on Christmas Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has scored the most points on Christmas Day?
A: The Pittsburgh Penguins have scored the most points on Christmas Day.
Which player holds the record for most points scored in a single-game on Christmas in NBA history?
Who holds the record for most points scored in a single-game?
A: The Guinness World Records hasnt yet listed this as an official record.
Related Tags
- most points scored in nba game
- most points in nba history
- nba christmas games history
- kobe christmas games
- nba christmas games 2009
