The NBA has seenmany talented scorers go on hot streaks that force opposing coaches toshake their heads and shrug. There is simply nothing a group of defenders can do except hope the next shot doesn't find its way through the bottom of the net.
Well, sometimes thosehot streaks just keep going and going until the buzzer sounds. Scoring runs of that nature are typically reserved for Hall of Famers such as Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant, but occasionally a lesser-known talentcan throw his name into the records books alongside the all-time greats. (Hello, Brandon Jennings!)
Which players ownthe highest-scoring halves in NBA history? Let's run down the list.
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Most points in a halfin NBA history
Chamberlain stands alone at the top with his 59-point half, which wasa part of his record-setting 100-point game (more on that below). Bryant isn't far behind him, as he scored 55 points in the second half of a 2006 game, finishing with 81 points overall.
David Thompson and George Gervin notably both scored 53 points in a halfon the same day in 1978. Gervin ended up totaling63 points to win the tightest scoring titlerace in NBA history.
| Player | Points | Date | Half |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 59 | March 2, 1962 | Second |
| Kobe Bryant | 55 | Jan. 22, 2006 | Second |
| David Thompson | 53 | April 9, 1978 | First |
| George Gervin | 53 | April 9, 1978 | First |
| Devin Booker | 51 | March 24, 2017 | Second |
| David Robinson | 47 | April 24, 1994 | Second |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 45 | Nov. 16, 1962 | First |
| Rick Barry | 45 | March 26, 1974 | Second |
| Brandon Jennings | 45 | Nov. 14, 2009 | Second |
(Via the Elias Sports Bureau)
Wilt Chamberlain's huge half helps him reach 100 points
"The Big Dipper" dropped 100 points in 48 minutes of work on March 2, 1962, as thePhiladelphia Warriors defeated the New York Knicks by a final score of169-147. In leading the Warriors to victory, Chamberlain broke his own single-game scoring record of 78 points set on Dec. 8, 1961, against the Los Angeles Lakers, a game that included multiple overtime periods.
Chamberlain finished with 100 points on36-of-63 shooting from the field (57.1 percent) and 28-of-32 shooting from the free throw line (87.5 percent). Keep in mind Chamberlain shot 51.1 percent from the line for his career, so hitting nearly 90 percent of his free throws in one game is some kind of anomaly. Miss only one extrafree throw, and he's stuck on99. (Not impressive at all!)
Along with all of the buckets, Chamberlain also grabbed 25 rebounds and found time to dish out two assists. The NBA did not record blocks until the 1973-74 season, so it's likely he also had a few of those. Heck, Chamberlain might have posted a 100-point triple-double.
The only thing more absurd than Chamberlain's 100-point game was his stat line for the entire 1961-62 season. Seriously, just take a moment and think about this: 50.4 points and25.7 rebounds per game on 50.6 percent shooting from the field and 61.3 percent from the line (a career-high, by the way). Chamberlain attempted nearly 40 field goals and shot 17 free throws per game.
But that's not the best part. Chamberlain averaged 48.5 minutes per game. If you're scratching your head now, yes, NBA games are only 48 minutes long. However, the Warriors also played 10 overtime periods that season, and Chamberlain logged 3,882 of a possible 3,890 minutes.
It's safe to say we won't see any NBA players eclipsing those season numbers — or his famous 100-point total —anytime soon.
