James Harden tied for seventh all-time last night, scoring 45 points on the road against the Celtics in the playoffs, and without a lot of ado, here’s the list (asterisk indicates the Celtics beat them anyway)…
63: Michael Jordan (1986 - 2OT)*
61: Elgin Baylor (1962)
50: Wilt Chamberlain (1960)
49: Jordan (1986)*
47: Jimmy Butler (2022), Dominique Wilkins (1988)*
45: Harden (2023), Paul Millsap (2016 - OT)* LeBron James (2012), James (2008)*, Jerry West (1965)*
Harden scored 41 points for the Nets at Boston in the playoffs two years ago, so in addition to landing in a tie for seventh on the single-game Boston Garden (and successor) visiting scoring list, he’s also in amazing company with multiple 40-point playoff games in Boston.
Bahlor and West did it four times apiece, James and Jordan each three times. At two, Harden joins Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson.
Shoutout to everyone who’s done it even once — the rest of the Stathead-assembled list: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Carmelo Anthony, Butler, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Ben Gordon, Hal Greer, Cliff Hagan, Bob McAdoo, Millsap, John Wall, and Wilkins.
We Can Pod It Out 102: Within You Without You