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The NBA play-in tournament has delivered once again this season. The LA Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors were in the play-in tournament this year. LeBron James is now 3-0 in play-in games. However, he is not the highest scorer in NBA play-in history.
The play-in tournament format has been around since the 2020-21 season. There have been 20 play-in games thus far.
After Wednesday's games, there is a new leading scorer in play-in tournament history. Let's look at the players with the highest scoring players in play-in games.
Top five scorers in NBA play-in history
No. 5 - Brandon Ingram - 98 points
Ingram had a terrible showing during his first play-in game this season. He scored 11 points and played 25 minutes in the loss to the LA Lakers. He was forced to the bench for most of the second half.
However, Ingram has performed well in play-in games before. In his three previous play-in games, Ingram averaged 29.0 points per game. That included a 30-point performance to lead the Pelicans into the playoffs last season.
No. 4 - Stephen Curry - 98 points
Curry also struggled in his play-in game this season as the Warriors were sent home packing by the Sacramento Kings. Curry scored 22 points in the loss.
Curry did a ton of damage in two games during the 2021 play-in tournament. Curry averaged 38.0 ppg over two games, but the Warriors came up short in losing to the Lakers and Grizzlies.
No. 3 - CJ McCollum - 103 points
McCollum has appeared in the play-in for two different teams. He scored 29 points in the first play-in game during the bubble to lead the Blazers to the win.
He has played in four games for the Pelicans. In 2022, he averaged 25.5 ppg as the Pels moved into the playoffs as the No. 9 seed. He also scored 14 in the Pelicans loss in 2023.
No. 2 - Jonas Valanciunas - 104 points
Valanciunas also benefited from the Pelicans' multiple appearances in the play-in tournament. He has played in seven play-in games. He has averaged 16.7 ppg in his first six play-in appearances.
No. 1 - Trae Young - 109 Points
Trae Young is now the highest-scoring player in play-in history. Young scored 22 points in the loss to the Bulls in this year's play-in game. Young has set the record in four games. His Hawks are 3-1 in those games. Young has averaged 27.3 ppg in his play-in appearances. He averaged 31.0 ppg in the Hawks' two play-in wins in 2022.
Guess the Lakers players!
