John Havlicek leads the way for Boston for most points scored in a single playoff game.
1. John Havlicek, 54 points (1973 Semifinals, Game 1)
Havlicek spent his entire 16-year career as a member of the Boston Celtics, helping the franchise win an incredible eight NBA Titles, including four straight from 1962-63 to 1965-66. ‘Captain John’ played the full 48 minutes in this game, scoring 54 points on 24-for-36 shooting while sinking all six of his free throws. He grabbed nine boards and dished out six assists in the 134-109 win over the Atlanta Hawks, and his 24 made shots tied Wilt Chamberlain’s (1960) record for most made field goals in a playoff game. Havlicek averaged 23.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 12 postseason contests during the 1972-1973 season, but he and the Celtics would fall 4-3 to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals that year.
2. Isaiah Thomas, 53 points (2017 Semifinals, Game 2)
Thomas enjoyed two and a half stellar seasons as a Celtic, but his 2016-17 campaign was the most productive of his 12-year run as a pro. ‘IT’ averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists in the regular season to earn his second All-Star nod and his first and only All-NBA selection (2nd Team), then went on to put up 23.3 points and 6.7 assists in 15 playoff games. Thomas dropped 53 points on 18-for-33 shooting with five made 3s to give Boston a 129-119 win in OT and 2-0 series lead over Washington, scoring nine points on a perfect four-for-four from the field in overtime. With the series going the distance, he sent the Wizards packing in Game 7 by posting 29 points and 12 assists in almost 40 minutes.
3. Ray Allen, 51 points (2009 First Round, Game 6)
Allen joined Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in Beantown in 2008 and played five seasons in green and white. It was quite a shift in the NBA landscape at the time, creating one of the first ‘super teams’ in a new era of basketball. Allen played nearly 59 minutes in this 128-127 3OT loss to the Chicago Bulls, finishing with 51 points on 18-for-32 shooting and nine made 3s (on 18 attempts). He also recorded five rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Boston would end up winning the series 4-3 before losing to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
4. Sam Jones, 51 points (1967 Eastern Division Semifinals, Game 4)
Similar to Havlicek, Sam Jones spent his entire career in Boston, winning an incredible ten NBA Championships in 12 seasons with the franchise. He won eight consecutive titles from 1958-59 to 1965-66. Jones torched the Knicks for 51 points on 19-for-30 shooting while draining 13 of 17 free throw attempts in 43 minutes, giving his Celtics the 3-1 series win. However, this was one of only two years in which he didn’t make it to and win the Finals, as Boston lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Division Finals.
5. Jayson Tatum, 51 points (2023 Semifinals, Game 7)
Tatum rounds out the list for the C’s with his 51 points in Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Sixers. ‘JT’ was masterful in almost 42 minutes of action, shooting 17-for-28 from the field while splashing in six 3s and hitting 11 of his 14 attempts at the charity stripe. He also finished with a game-high 13 rebounds and plus-33 plus-minus rating, while dishing out five assists and collecting two steals. In his sixth season at age 24, Tatum had a monster postseason in 2022-23, recording averages of 27.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in 40 minutes per game.
