NBA Finals records: Most points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks in a single game

Scott Rafferty

NBA Finals records: Most points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks in a single game image

In 1947, the Chicago Stags and Philadelphia Warriors faced off in the first Finals in NBA history.

Many of the greatest players have battled on the league's brightest stage in the 75 years since, making history with record-breaking performances that will never be forgotten.

Just about every NBA fan knows about Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point performance in the regular season but who has poured in the most points in a single game in the NBA Finals? Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson drilled an NBA record 14 3-pointers in Oct. 2018 but who holds the record for most threes on the grandest stage?

Who has pulled down the most rebounds and handed out the most assists?

Find out below.

Michael Jordan

NBA Finals record for points in a game

Elgin Baylor holds the record for points scored in a Finals game with 61. Only six other players have ever scored 50 or more points in a Finals game, the most recent being Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Most points in a Finals game
RankPlayer(s)Points
1Elgin Baylor61
2Rick Barry, Michael Jordan55
3Jerry West53
4LeBron James51
5Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bob Pettit50

NBA Finals record for rebounds in a game

Nobody has pulled down more rebounds in a Finals game than Bill Russell, who recorded 40 on not one, but two occasions.

Most rebounds in a Finals game
RankPlayer(s)Rebounds
1Bill Russell (2)40
2Bill Russell (2), Wilt Chamberlain (2)38
3Bill Russell35
4Wilt Chamberlain33
5Bill Russell (3)32

NBA Finals record for assists in a game

Magic Johnson's name is all over the leaderboard for assists. He's the only player in NBA history to dish out 20-plus assists in a Finals game.

Most assists in a Finals game
RankPlayer(s)Assists
1Magic Johnson21
2Magic Johnson (2)20
3Magic Johnson (2), Bob Cousy (2), Walt Frazier 19
4Jerry West18
5Magic Johnson (3), Dennis Johnson, Robert Reid17

NBA Finals record for turnovers in a game

Unfortunately for Johnson, he also owns the Finals record for turnovers in a single game with 10.

Most turnovers in a Finals game
RankPlayer(s)Turnovers
1Magic Johnson10
2Magic Johnson9
3Magic Johnson, LeBron James (2), Stephen Curry, Manu Ginobili, Draymond Green, Kenyon Martin, Hakeem Olajuwon, Gus Williams8

NBA Finals record for steals in a game

Robert Horry's seven steals is the most all-time in a Finals game. Seven players have picked up six steals. Many more have finished with five.

Most steals in a Finals game
RankPlayer(s)Steals
1Robert Horry7
2Maurice Cheeks, John Havlicek, Kevin Love, Steve Mix, Rajon Rondo, Isiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade6

NBA Finals record for blocks in a game

In his two trips to the Finals, Dwight Howard blocked a total of 22 shots. Nine of those came in a single game, the most ever in NBA history.

Most blocks in a Finals game
RankPlayer(s)Blocks
1Dwight Howard9
2Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, Bill Walton8
3Tim Duncan (2), Andrew Bynum, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dennis Johnson7
4Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Patrick Ewing, Pau Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Rasheed Wallace6

NBA Finals record for field goals in a game

Elgin Baylor and Rick Barry share the record for most field goals in a Finals game with 22.

Most field goals in a Finals game
RankPlayer(s)Field goals
1Elgin Baylor, Rick Barry22
2Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Jerry West21
3Wilt Chamberlain, Russell Westbrook20

NBA Finals record for 3-pointers in a game

To no surprise, this is one of several records Stephen Curry holds in the Finals.

Most 3-pointers in a Finals game
RankPlayer(s)3-pointers
1Stephen Curry9
2Ray Allen8
3Stephen Curry (5), Ray Allen, Devin Booker, Danny Green, Kyrie Irving, Mike Miller, Scottie Pippen, Duncan Robinson, J.R. Smith, Kenny Smith, Klay Thompson7

Scott Rafferty

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.