The Memphis Grizzlies’ 79-point win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 2, 2021, set the record for the biggest blowout in NBA history.
The modern reliance on both tanking and three-point shooting has created some extraordinarily lopsided scores in the NBA. When one team has an epic shooting night and the other team is downright awful, the scores can turn out pretty eye-popping.
Here’s a look at the full top five, with a new edition in 2024:
79 Points: Grizzlies 152, Thunder 73
Dec. 2, 2021
In 2021, the Grizzlies set a new NBA record for the largest margin victory in history.
Of the 12 players who played in the game by Memphis, nine managed to score in double-digits. They were also able to shoot an outstanding 62.5 from the field and 52.8 from beyond the arc.
68 Points: Cavs 148, Heat 80
Dec. 17, 1991
Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, and John Williams spearheaded this drubbing by the Cavs. Five other players scored in double figures to secure this big win.
65 Points: Pacers 124, Trailblazers 59
Feb. 2, 1998
Portland’s 65-point defeat to Indiana in 1998 was the result of a poor shooting. They shot 33% from the field and never tallied 20 points in any quarter.
The Pacers capitalized on the offensive end through a balanced game. Eight players put up over ten points in an impressive 63 percent shooting. Mark Jackson finished with a team-high 18 points.
63 Points: Lakers 162, Warriors 99
March 19, 1972
Despite a rare off night from Wilt Chamberlain, the Lakers were still able to pull off a 63-point blowouw.
Gail Goodrich and Jim McMillian headed the offensive onslaught as they mustered 30 points and 22 points. Five other Lakers chimed in with double-figure outputs.
62 Points: Thunder 139, Trail Blazers 77
Jan. 11, 2024
Oklahoma City was on the wrong side of this list just two seasons ago, but six different players scored in double figures during this game. That includes MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored a game-high 31. Josh Giddey recorded a triple-double.
As a team, OKC shot 57% (53-of-93) from the floor and scored a monstrous 70 points in the paint.
Unfortunately, the loss crowns the Blazers as the only team in NBA history to lose multiple games by 60 or more points.
62 Points: Warriors 153, Kings 91
Nov. 2, 1991
The trio of Chris Mullin (32 points), Victor Alexander (28 points), and Sarunas Marciulionis (27 points) steered the Warriors to this massive win.
