Dominique Wilkins dunks in a game against the Chicago Bulls in 1990.
The Atlanta Hawks have made the playoffs 49 times in franchise history. They have come away with one championship. Let’s highlight their top five all-time leaders for most points scored in a playoff game.
1. Dominique Wilkins, 50 Points
Wilkins made eight trips to the playoffs with the Hawks. His best scoring performance came in Game 2 of a first-round series with the Pistons in 1986. He exploded for 50 points, shooting 19 of 28 from the field. He also made 12 of 15 attempts at the free throw line. In addition to his scoring contributions, Wilkins chipped in five rebounds, three assists, and a steal in what turned out to be a 137-125 win for the Hawks. The Hawks were eventually eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Celtics. During that entire playoff run, Wilkins averaged 28.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
2. Trae Young, 48 Points
The Hawks made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. In Game 1 of that series against the Bucks, Young scored 48 points over 41 minutes. He shot 17-for-34 from the field and made 10 of 12 free-throw attempts. Young had a stellar overall stat line, also providing seven rebounds and 11 assists. The Hawks won the game, 116-113. They would go on to lose the series in six games. Throughout that playoff run, Young averaged 28.8 points and 9.5 assists over 16 games.
3. Dominique Wilkins, 47 Points
Wilkins scored 47 points in Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals against the Celtics. He shot 19-for-33 from the field and 8-for-9 from the free throw line. No other player on the Hawks scored more than 22 points in the game as the Hawks fell by two points. For the Hawks’ playoff run that season, Wilkins averaged 31.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
4. Paul Millsap, 45 Points
Millsap made four All-Star teams and four trips to the playoffs in four seasons with the Hawks. His best playoff scoring performance came in Game 4 of a first-round series against the Celtics in 2016. He finished with 45 points, shooting 19-for-31 from the field. In addition to his scoring contributions, Millsap recorded 13 rebounds, two steals, and four blocks in what would turn out to be a 104-95 loss for the Hawks. Atlanta would eventually win the series, but they lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Cavaliers.
5. Dominique Wilkins, 43 Points
In yet another stellar playoff performance, Wilkins scored 43 points in Game 2 of a first-round series between the Hawks and Pacers in 1987. It wasn’t exactly an efficient performance as he shot just 15-for-37 from the field. However, he made 12 of his 13 free throw attempts. Atlanta won the game, 94-93. The Hawks would go on to win the series, but they were eliminated by the Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
