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Recording 50-point games is an extremely tough task for a player in the NBA. Not many players have been fazed by the challenge, though, as they went on to record multiple 50-point games in their NBA careers.
When a player ends up producing a performance like that, the expectation is for his team to win that game. But that hasn't always been the case. There have been multiple instances where a player has ended up on the losing side, despite producing 50-point games.
On that note, let's take a look at the five players with the most 50-point games in NBA history in a losing cause.
#5 Allen Iverson - 5 games
Allen Iverson was one of the most influential players to ever play in the NBA. He was destined for greatness all along. "The Answer" was one of the most skilled offensive players of all time. Despite his short 6'0" frame, Iverson dominated the league with his explosive scoring abilities, winning four scoring titles.
He recorded 11 50-point games throughout his career. Iverson was at the peak of his scoring prowess during his stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged over 30 points per game in five separate seasons with the team. 10 of 11 of his 50-point games came during his time with the Sixers.
Iverson found himself on the losing team 5 times when he scored 50 points or more in his career. Four times with the Sixers and once with the Denver Nuggets in 2007.
#4 James Harden - 6 games
James Harden was in terrific scoring form in his last three seasons with the Houston Rockets. He averaged roughly 33 points per game during that stretch. Harden was always the primary scoring option for the team. More often than not, he had to bail them out of trouble all by himself.
That saw him record several 40-point and 50-point games throughout his stint with the franchise. He has 23 50-point games in his career, the fourth-highest in NBA history. Despite producing such staggering numbers, Harden wasn't able to lead the Rockets to wins all the time.
He recorded six games during which he scored 50 points or more in his NBA career.
#3 Kobe Bryant - 7 games
The late great Kobe Bryant retired as one of the all-time greats in the NBA. He even signed off with a 60-point game in his last appearance for the LA Lakers.
Bryant was known for putting up huge individual performances throughout his career. His 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors is a great testament to his prowess as one of the best scorers in the NBA. Bryant had a wide range of shots in his arsenal. It made him one of the most difficult players to guard on the court.
Almost all of the team's possessions on every Lakers roster he played for ran through him. He was very clinical with the way he created space to make the toughest shots possible.
He ended up tallying 25 50-point games in his career, the third-highest in NBA history. Most of those games came when the LA Lakers were struggling to form a good team around Bryant. As a result, the Lakers lost as many as seven games when Bryant produced 50-point outings.
#2 Michael Jordan - 8 games
Michael Jordan is regarded as the greatest basketball player ever. The 6-time NBA champion broke several records during his active years. He is idolized by a lot of players in the league. The intensity and passion with which he played was rare and a joy to watch.
That played a major role in him winning six NBA titles during his illustrious career. Jordan has been a superstar since making his debut. Even after retirement, he remains one of the most popular personalities known from the NBA globally. Jordan was skillful in every department of the game.
His offensive prowess was unparalleled. Jordan dominated teams single-handedly due to his scoring abilities. He managed to record 31 50-point games during his NBA career. He ended up on the losing side eight times, though. That's because the majority of his 50-point outings came when the Bulls were in the process of building a championship-caliber roster.
Jordan was often the only bright performer for his team, which saw plenty of his high production games go in vain.
#1 Wilt Chamberlain - 37 games
Wilt Chamberlain's records are off the charts. He is the only player to average 40 and 50 points per game in a single season. He is the only player to have averaged at least 30 points and 20 points in an NBA season, a feat he has achieved seven times.
Chamberlain is also the only player to score 100 points in an NBA game, the highest for any player in the league's history. These statistics make it a little less surprising that he had a record 118 50-point games in his NBA career. Chamberlain wasn't always on the best of teams and won only two titles in his career.
Several of his monumental individual efforts went in vain more often than not. He recorded a whopping 37 50-point games in which his teams ended up on the losing side. To put that into context, Michael Jordan, who ranks second on the all-time list for the most 50-point games, had 31 50-point games in his career.
