One of the greatest players to represent the Pacers’ franchise, Reggie Miller is first for most points in a single playoff performance.
The Indiana Pacers franchise won three ABA championships but are still looking for their first NBA title. Their playoff history has been littered with stellar individual scoring performances. Let’s highlight their top five all-time leaders for most points scored in a playoff game.
1. Reggie Miller, 41 Points (2000 Eastern Conference First Round, Game 5)
The Pacers drafted Miller with the 11th pick in the 1987 Draft. He spent his entire career with the franchise and made five All-Star teams. While Miller never won a championship, he did score in bunches during the playoffs. In Game 5 of a 2000 Eastern Conference first round series against the Bucks, Miller scored 41 points over 39 minutes. He shot 15-for-25 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free-low line. The Pacers won the game and the series, advancing all the way to the NBA Finals, which they lost in six games to the Lakers.
2. Reggie Miller, 41 Points (2001 Eastern Conference First Round, Game 2)
The next season, Miller also scored 41 points in a playoff game. He did so in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference first round series against the 76ers. He shot 14-for-22 from the field and went 10-for-12 from the free-throw line. Despite his performance, the Pacers lost the game by 18 points. The Pacers went on to lose the series in four games.
3. Anthony Johnson, 40 Points (2006 Eastern Conference First Round, Game 6)
Johnson made the playoffs in all three seasons that he played for the Pacers. His best scoring performance came in Game 6 of a 2006 Eastern Conference first round series against the Nets. He scored 40 points, shooting 16-for-23 from the field and 5-for-9 from the free-throw line. The Pacers lost that game and went on to lose the series in six games. Across his three playoff stints with the Pacers, Johnson averaged 8.1 points per game and shot 41.6% from the field.
T-4. Chuck Person, 40 Points (1987 Eastern Conference First Round, Game 4)
Person accomplished the feat in Game 4 of a first round series with the Hawks in 1987. The Pacers lost that game and the series.
T-4: Reggie Miller, 40 Points (2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 1)
In a 2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup with the 76ers, Miller burst out of the gate with 40 points in Game 1. He shot 11-for-18 from the field, including 7-for-10 from behind the arc. He also shot 11-for-12 from the free-throw line across his 40 minutes. The Pacers won the game and eventually won the series in six games. For his career, Miller averaged 20.6 points per game in the playoffs.
T-4. Jalen Rose – 40 Points (2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 1)
In the same 2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup with Miller against the 76ers, Rose scored 40 points in Game 1. This performance gained the duo entrance into an exclusive group, making them the fourth pair of teammates in NBA history to score 40+ points in the same playoff game.
