The NBA playoffs are the best time to be a fan of the league. After all, the competition is at an all-time high during the postseason.
Speaking of which, there are players who have truly taken their game to the next level, in terms of scoring in playoffs. Jamal Murray’s 23-point fourth-quarter outburst during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals was a recent example of it. On that note, why don’t we take a look at each player who holds the record for scoring the most points in a quarter during the playoffs?
First Quarter – Charles Barkley, 27 Points
The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors faced off in the first round of the 1994 NBA playoffs. In Game 3 of the series, Charles Barkley dominated the game like no other. He recorded 27 points in the first quarter of the game itself.
For the game, Barkley recorded 56 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. The Suns won the game with a score of 140-133 and took a 3-0 lead in the series. To this date, it remains the most points scored in the opening quarter of the game.
Second Quarter – Kevin Durant, 23 Points
Kevin Durant is regarded as one of the most prolific scorers of all time. Sure, his playoff resume is still far from perfect, but there are times when the Slim Reaper takes it to the next level.
A perfect example of it was during Game 6 of the first-round series between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2019 playoffs. Durant dropped 50 points in the win, including a 23-point second quarter. KD’s also had 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block to his name.
Third Quarter – Mark Aguirre, 27 Points
Mark Aguirre is one of the lesser-remembered first-overall picks in NBA history. But Aguirre proved his worth in the 1988 playoffs. The Dallas Mavericks eliminated the Houston Rockets from the postseason in the first round of the playoffs.
Aguirre was the hero of Game 4 during the series giving Dallas a 3-1 lead over Houston. Ziggy recorded 38 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. His scoring outburst included a 27-point third quarter. Aguirre’s phenomenal 27 points in the third are also tied for the second-most points in any quarter during the playoffs.
Fourth Quarter – Sleepy Floyd, 29 Points
Last, but undoubtedly not least, Sleepy Floyd created history in the 1987 playoffs by dropping 29 points in the fourth quarter vs. the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. To this date, Floyd holds the record for scoring the most points in any quarter in the NBA playoffs.
As for his entire performance, Floyd had 51 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals. Floyd’s impressive outing helped the Warriors take a 129-121 win. It was their only victory in the series.
The current NBA is considered to be the golden age for scorers. Despite that, three out of the four highest-scoring quarters came during the 1980s and the 1990s.
It is truly surprising that no player has been able to break these records. But we may see them get shattered in the coming years. Since the league is becoming more and more scorer-friendly.
