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#3 Khris Middleton
Stat line: 29 points (12-of 26 FG; 5-of-12 3PT)
2021 NBA Finals Game 1: Milwaukee Bucks at Phoenix Suns (July 6, 2021)
Khris Middleton joined this list on Tuesday in Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals after scoring 29 points against the Phoenix Suns. The two-time All-Star mixed up his arsenal with drives, mid-range shots and 3-pointers in his Finals debut.
Middleton led the Milwaukee Bucks in scoring and was one of the few bright spots on the team. With his outside shot falling, the 29-year-old was a handful for the Phoenix Suns but the Bucks missed an opportunity to feed him in the latter stages of the fourth quarter. That mistake cost Milwaukee the game and they eventually lost 118-105.
#2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Stat line: 30 points (15-of 26 FG)
1985 NBA Finals Game 2: LA Lakers at Boston Celtics (May 30, 1985)
After the infamous “Memorial Day Massacre” in which the Celtics annihilated the Lakers 148-114 in Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals, a 38-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar needed to prove he was not washed up. The Captain scored only 12 points and grabbed a mere three boards in the Game 1 drubbing from Larry Bird and company.
In Game 2, the kid gloves were off and Kareem proceeded to rain down skyhooks on the unsuspecting Celtics. After the smoke cleared on the Lakers’ 109-102 victory, the all-time great finished with 30 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks.
Up until Booker’s recent performance, the 30 points by Abdul-Jabbar was the highest scored by a player without attempting a free throw in the NBA Finals.
#1 Devin Booker
Stat line: 31 points (12-of 25 FG; 7-of-12 3PT)
2021 NBA Finals Game 2: Phoenix Suns vs Milwaukee Bucks (July 8, 2021)
Booker torched the Bucks all night long when he dropped seven 3-pointers on them on Thursday. Five of those threes came in the second half, many of them coming with a hand in his face.
As previously mentioned, Booker’s 31 is the highest scored by a player in the NBA Finals without taking a free-throw attempt. He’s also only the second player to do so while scoring at least 30 points, joining Abdul-Jabbar on the list.
Additionally, by making seven 3-pointers in Game 2, the Suns guard became just the 11th player to make at least that many in an NBA Finals game. Curry owns the record with nine.
