NBA Team Scoring Records
NBA teams have established remarkable scoring records throughout
league history. Some have remained unbeaten for decades, while
others have been surpassed by modern teams.
| Record |
Record Holder |
Details |
| Largest Margin of Victory |
Memphis Grizzlies - 73 Points |
December 2, 2021
Memphis Grizzlies 152, Oklahoma City Thunder 79.
Memphis broke the previous NBA record of 68 points.
|
| Highest-Scoring NBA Game |
Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets - 370 Combined Points |
December 13, 1983
Detroit Pistons 186, Denver Nuggets 184.
The game required three overtime periods.
|
| Most Points by One Team in a Game |
Detroit Pistons - 186 Points |
December 13, 1983
Detroit scored 186 points against Denver
in the highest-scoring NBA game ever played.
|
| Most Points by a Team in One Quarter |
Buffalo Braves - 58 Points |
October 20, 1972
Buffalo scored 58 points in the fourth quarter
against the Boston Celtics. Despite the record,
Buffalo lost 126-118.
|
| Most Points by a Team in One Half |
Phoenix Suns - 107 Points |
November 10, 1990
Phoenix scored 107 points in the first half
against the Denver Nuggets.
The Suns won the game 173-143.
|
NBA Individual Player Records
Some of basketball's most memorable achievements belong
to individual players who established extraordinary
scoring and physical milestones.
| Record |
Record Holder |
Details |
| Most Points by One Player in an NBA Game |
Wilt Chamberlain - 100 Points |
March 2, 1962
Chamberlain scored 100 points for the
Philadelphia Warriors against the
New York Knicks in a 169-147 victory.
|
| Youngest Player to Appear in an NBA Game |
Andrew Bynum - 18 Years, 6 Days |
November 2, 2005
Bynum made his NBA debut for the
Los Angeles Lakers against the Denver Nuggets.
He surpassed Jermaine O'Neal's previous record.
|
| Tallest Players in NBA History |
Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol - 7 Feet, 7 Inches |
Both players are listed at 7 feet, 7 inches,
making them tied for the tallest players
in NBA history.
|
Basketball World Records Beyond the NBA
Basketball records are not limited to NBA competition.
Exhibition players and professional entertainers have
also established extraordinary achievements recognized
by Guinness World Records.
| Record |
Record Holder |
Details |
| Highest Basketball Slam Dunk |
Michael "Wild Thing" Wilson - 12 Feet |
April 1, 2000
Harlem Globetrotters player Michael Wilson
successfully dunked a regulation basketball
through a hoop positioned 12 feet above
the floor in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The achievement is recognized by
Guinness World Records.
|
Former NBA Records and Historical Milestones
Some achievements once stood as NBA records before
later players or teams surpassed them. These former
records remain important parts of basketball history.
| Former Record |
Record Holder |
Historical Significance |
| Largest Margin of Victory - 68 Points |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
December 17, 1991
Cleveland defeated the Miami Heat 148-80.
The record stood until Memphis won by
73 points on December 2, 2021.
|
| Youngest NBA Player - 18 Years, 53 Days |
Jermaine O'Neal |
December 5, 1996
O'Neal made his NBA debut for Portland
against Denver. His record was surpassed
by Andrew Bynum in 2005.
|
Historical Note:
NBA records are generally maintained separately from
records established in the ABA, NBL, international leagues
and exhibition basketball. This page identifies NBA
achievements and independently recognized basketball
world records.
Record Verification and Related Reading
Additional information about these achievements can be
found through official NBA historical resources and
Guinness World Records.
Submit a Basketball Record or Historical Correction
NBAHoopsOnline welcomes submissions about unusual,
forgotten or historically significant basketball
games and records.
If you know of a record or performance that should
be included, please provide the date, teams, final
score, player or record involved, and a reliable
source supporting the information.
You can send information through our
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All submissions are reviewed before changes are
made to the historical records.
