5 Players with most points in an NBA Finals series-clinching game

#3 Michael Jordan - 1998 NBA Finals, Game 6

Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls.

Arguably the greatest single-game performance in NBA Finals history, Michael Jordan's Game 6 against the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals will always be remembered by diehard NBA fans.

At age 35, 'MJ' put up 45 points against the Utah Jazz on the road to cling to the sixth NBA championship in Chicago Bulls history and the sixth of his NBA career. Completing the Bulls' second 'three-peat', Jordan was heroic in the final minute of Game 6, as he scored four points and even made a big defensive play between his two baskets to seal the match in Chicago's favor.

Moreover, Jordan capped his effort off with the game-winning jumper to provide NBA fans with an iconic moment in his final game with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan went on to win the sixth NBA Finals MVP of his career and those 45 points were then the biggest performance in an NBA Finals-clinching game since the NBA-ABA merger (in terms of points).

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#2 Giannis Antetokounmpo - 2021 NBA Finals, Game 6

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was as dominant as any other player seen in NBA Finals history when he took down the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals game.

He had one of the greatest performances ever in a single NBA Finals game by scoring 50 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and blocking five shots in the game.

'The Greek Freak' even made 17 of his 19 free throws that night and also became the third player (after Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon) to win the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year award and NBA Finals MVP award during his NBA career.

Giannis ended up averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and five assists per game in the six-game affair.

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#1 Bob Pettit - 1958 NBA Finals, Game 6

Bob Pettit.

The 1958 NBA Finals series is not talked about as much as it should be, given it was Bill Russell's only time playing in the NBA Finals and going out without the trophy in his hands.

Russell played in 12 NBA Finals in his 13-year NBA career and he only lost once. It mainly happened because Russell and the Boston Celtics had Bob Pettit in front. The St. Louis Hawks' superstar, the first winner of the NBA MVP award, averaged 29.3 points and 17 rebounds per game in the six-game series.

However, the biggest moment came in the potential NBA title-clinching Game 6, where Pettit put up 50 points and 19 rebounds to lead a one-point win for the Hawks to stop Russell's Boston Celtics.

Pettit's 50 points in an NBA title-clinching game are now tied with Giannis Antetokounmpo's 50 points in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals for most in such games in league history.

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