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Scoring is an art only a few have perfected in the NBA. From fadeaway jumpers to easy layups to lighting up from beyond the arc, players have found different ways to create high-percentage shots.
While some have scored 60 points in an NBA game only once, others have done it on multiple occasions. On that note, let's have a look at ten active players in the NBA to have scored 60+ points in a game.
#10 Klay Thompson (60)
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Klay Thompson is arguably the best perimeter shooter in the NBA and holds the record for most three-pointers in a single game (14), even though he has not featured in the regular season for two consecutive campaigns.
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Thompson scored 60 points against the Indiana Pacers on December 5, 2016, helping his team to a 142-106 win. He scored eight of 14 from the three-point area and did not play the entire fourth quarter.
#9 Kemba Walker (60)
Although Kemba Walker has never won the NBA championship, he has shown how great a scorer he is on numerous occasions. He registered his career-high tally of 60 points in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in November 2018.
Although that was not enough to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a victory on the night, it was a superb achievement for the guard. Walker now plays for the Boston Celtics, who are playing the Brooklyn Nets to stay alive in the 2021 NBA playoffs Eastern Conference first round.
#8 Bradley Beal (60)
The Washington Wizards are down 3-0 against the Philadelphia 76ers in the ongoing 2021 NBA playoffs. That's largely because Bradley Beal has been unable to recreate his January 6, 2021 performance, when he recorded 60 points against the 76ers.
Beal recorded a career-high 60 points on the night, doing so with a shooting efficiency of 57.1%. However, despite his exploits, the Wizards slumped to a 136-141 loss on the night.
#7 Jayson Tatum (60)
Jayson Tatum dropped 50 points against the Brooklyn Nets superteam to help the Boston Celtics take Game 3 of their 2021 NBA playoffs first round. It was Tatum's fourth 50-point game in two months, which is an indication that things can only get better for the forward.
On April 30, 2021, Tatum registered 60 points against the San Antonio Spurs to lead his team to a 143-140 overtime win. With postseason qualification on the line, the 23-year-old produced a fabulous performance to keep his team in the reckoning.
#6 LeBron James (61)
The debate on whether LeBron James is the greatest of all time is still on. But the veteran is enjoying his game and doing his best to help the LA Lakers successfully defend their NBA title.
James has featured in many high-profile games during his career and come out on top. Although he does not top this list, he remains one of the most lethal scorers in NBA history.
During his time with the Miami Heat, LeBron James recorded a career-high 61 points against the then Charlotte Bobcats to lead his team to a 124-107 victory. However, the Heat failed to go all the way, as they fell to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals.
#5 Damian Lillard (61)
Damian Lillard is known for his long-range buzzer-beaters, which inflict the most devastating blows to teams in the NBA. However, his three-point shooting, coupled with his explosive drives to the rim, helps the guard get on the score sheet as often as he likes.
Dame reached 61 points twice last year, while he also scored 60 the year before. In January 2020, he recorded 61 points to help his team beat the Golden State Warriors. The Dallas Mavericks met the same fate in August 2020, as they lost to the Dame-led Portland Trail Blazers 131-134.
#4 James Harden (61)
James Harden is one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA. He crossed the 60-point mark at least once in 2018 and 2019. His career-high points tally in a game stands at 61, which he has achieved twice, doing so in January and March 2019.
On both occasions, he accounted for over 50% of the Houston Rockets' total points in wins against the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
Although that is an achievement on its own, the Brooklyn Nets player also has several other accolades in the NBA. He won the 2018 NBA MVP award and was the league's scoring champion in three consecutive seasons (2018-2020).
#3 Carmelo Anthony (62)
Although Carmela Anthony is not as red-hot as he once was, the forward has always been a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. On January 24, 2014, he scored 62 points against the Charlotte Bobcats, which comprised 68% of the opposition team's total score.
Anthony, who won the 2013 NBA scoring champion title, has also made ten All-Star appearances in his illustrious career. Unfortunately, he did not feature in the postseason that year, as the New York Knicks finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
#2 Stephen Curry (62)
Stephen Curry is the closest to toppling Thompson's three-point record, threatening to do so on a few occasions. Curry's incredible spell in April 2021 helped the guard create several records of his own in the NBA.
He has had only one 60+ point game in his NBA career. That came on January 3, 2021, where Curry registered 62 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. In a battle of the guards, Curry and Damian Lillard traded buckets, but the former came out on top.
The two-time MVP and three-time NBA champion is one of the greatest shooters in the game's history. However, his run in the NBA this season was cut short after the Memphis Grizzlies eliminated the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament.
#1 Devin Booker (70)
Devin Booker has had an incredible 2020-21 season and is topping that with his imperious performances on his NBA playoffs debut.
Playing his sophomore season, Booker recorded 70 points in his team's 120-130 loss against the Boston Celtics in 2017.
He was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 2015 and has continued to deliver for the team. His partnership with Chris Paul has helped him improve his production as Booker the team to their first NBA playoffs appearance in eleven years as the number two seed in the Western Conference.
