LeBron James led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007.
1. LeBron James, 51 points (2018 Finals, Game 1)
LeBron has his fingerprints all over Cleveland’s history books. He holds the top scoring performance in the playoffs with 51 points in the opening game of the Finals in 2018. It was the fourth consecutive season in which James led the Cavs to an Eastern Conference Championship and into the Finals, but his squad would end up being swept by the Golden State Warriors in this one. ‘The King’ played almost 48 minutes in the overtime loss, shooting 19-for-32 from the field with three 3s and cashing in ten of 11 free throw attempts, and added eight rebounds, eight assists, a steal and a block. He led the NBA in scoring (34.0 ppg), minutes played (41.9) and games played (22) during the 2017-18 postseason.
2. Donovan Mitchell, 50 points (2024 First Round, Game 6)
Mitchell loves the bright lights and big stage of the playoffs. With this 50-point outburst against the Orlando Magic last season, ‘Spida’ has dropped 50-plus points three times in his postseason career (twice with Utah, once with Cleveland). He put up 50 in this losing effort on 22-for-36 shooting with three made 3s, also tallying four rebounds, four assists and a block in nearly 42 minutes. The Cavs would go on to win this series in Game 7 at home, where Mitchell was huge again by pouring in 39 points in the 106-94 victory.
3. LeBron James, 49 points (2009 ECF, Game 1)
LeBron’s first stint in Cleveland was littered with impressive individual playoff performances. He was automatic in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009, exploding for 49 points on an efficient 20-for-30 shooting with three made triples in 41 minutes. No other Cavalier had more than 17 points in their tough 107-106 loss to the Magic, and Orlando would go on to take the series in six games. James chipped in six rebounds, eight assists, two steals and three blocks with only two turnovers. He averaged a ridiculous 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks during the ECF, and led the league in postseason scoring at 35.3 ppg.
4. LeBron James, 48 points (2007 ECF, Game 5)
Another feather in James’ cap was taking the 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in only his fourth season. His play against division rivals in the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals that year was a defining moment in LeBron’s ascension as the face of the league. He dropped 48 points in a little more than 50 minutes in the 109-107 double-overtime victory, combining to score all 18 Cavs’ points in both OT periods. James shot 18-for-33 from the field with two made 3s, making all four of his attempts in 2OT, and finished with nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Cleveland would eventually be swept by the Spurs in the Finals, but this was one of the all-time great single-game performances in the league’s history.
5. LeBron James, 48 points (2009 Semifinals, Game 3)
LeBron’s 47 points in 43 minutes against the Atlanta Hawks concludes this list for the Cavs. He finished just two assists shy of a playoff triple-double, tallying 12 rebounds, eight assists, a steal and a block, and had a game-high plus-26 plus-minus rating. James was 15-for-25 from the field with five made 3s on ten attempts, and drained 12 of 16 free throws. LBJ would take home his first of four NBA MVP honors in the 2008-09 season, but Cleveland came up short in the postseason again after being bested by Orlando in the ECF.
