Kawhi Leonard scored 43 points in Game 4 of the first round in the 2017 Playoffs, marking the third-highest total in San Antonio Spurs history.
The San Antonio Spurs were among the most successful teams in the NBA between the late 90s and early 2010s, routinely making the playoffs and going on deep postseason runs as well as winning several titles. That’s not to say that the Spurs didn’t have some notable postseason performances earlier in their history, though.
Here, we take a look at the five top individual scoring performances in the postseason for players donning the Spurs jersey.
George Gervin, 46 points (1978 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 2)
Gervin was one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA in the late 70s, and his best scoring performance in the playoffs in a San Antonio uniform came in this 121-117 defeat against the Washington Bullets. It remains the best scoring effort by a Spurs player in the postseason to this day, as Gervin finished that contest with a line of 46 points (17-32 FG, 12-15 FT), six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block across 41 minutes. The Spurs would end up losing that series against the Bullets in six games.
George Gervin, 44 points 1980 Eastern Conference First Round, Game 2)
Gervin also lays claim to the second-best scoring performance by a Spurs player in the playoffs. This time, it came in the first round of the 1980 NBA Playoffs, and coincidentally, also in Game 2. The result was positive this time around, though, as Gervin’s 44-point performance lifted the Spurs to a 106-101 win over the Houston Rockets. Gervin also added seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks, but in the end, the Spurs would end up losing the series 2-1.
Kawhi Leonard, 43 points 2017 Western Conference First Round, Game 4)
Leonard was the most recent Spurs player to surpass the 40-point mark in a postseason contest. It came in Game 4 of the first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies. In a game that finished with a 110-108 loss for San Antonio, Leonard posted 43 points (14-30 FG, 7-10 3Pt, 8-8 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and six steals across 45 minutes. Despite that Game 4 defeat, the Spurs would end up advancing to the next round after winning the series in six games.
Tony Parker, 43 points (2009 Western Conference First Round, Game 4)
The Spurs lost in the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks in five games. However, Parker made his presence felt in Game 4 of the series after notching 43 points (18-29 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 5-8 FT), five rebounds, three assists, four steals and a block across 42 minutes. The Spurs lost that game 99-90.
George Gervin, 42 points (1983 Western Conference Semifinals, Game 1)
Gervin’s third and final appearance in this decorated list came in the semifinals of the 1983 NBA Playoffs, as he led San Antonio in scoring with a strong 42-point showing in a 152-133 victory over the Denver Nuggets. In that Game 1 victory, Gervin also added 10 rebounds, two assists and a steal across 35 minutes. The Spurs would move past the Nuggets before eventually losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1983 Western Conference Finals in six games.
