The Greatest Performances in Current NBA Arenas
MJ's "Double Nickel" game turns 20, so we look back.
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The 20th Year Anniversary of Michael Jordan's 55-Point Game at The Garden - Just his fifth game back from a 17-month retirement, Michael Jordan had Madison Square Garden in the palm of his hands and fans at the edges of their seats every time he touched the ball en route to his electric 55-point night in New York City. With Saturday marking the 20th-year anniversary of Jordan's scintillating March 28, 1995 performance, check out the best performances at every current arena in the NBA. From Jordan's double-nickel—and more—to Kobe Bryant's 81 points at the Staples Center, we've got it all covered. This is the kind of stat-stuffing that legends are made of.
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LeBron James 61 PointsWhere: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FLMarch 3, 2014 - How's this for a final stat line? LeBron James hit 22 of 33 shots from the field, including his first eight three-pointers in a magical 61-point game at AmericanAirlines Arena in a Miami Heat thrashing of the Charlotte Bobcats last March. (Photo: Hector Gabino/El Nuevo Herald/MCT/Landov)
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Dirk Nowitzki 53 Points Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TXDec. 2, 2004 - Dirk Nowitzki was definitely feeling it more than 10 years ago in the Dallas Mavericks' American Airlines Center. That's when the future Hall of Famer went head-to-head in a scoring battle with Tracy McGrady. Nowitzki unbelievably managed to outdo T-Mac's 48 points, nine rebounds and nine assists by notching 43 points in regulation and the first 10 points of overtime in the Mavs' win over the Houston Rockets. He also hauled down 16 boards. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
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Tracy McGrady 62 Points Where: Amway Arena, Orlando, FL March 10, 2004 - Don't ever forget how nice Tracy McGrady was at one point in his career. After splitting the shine with Vince Carter in Toronto, T-Mac proved he could do it by himself with the Orlando Magic, perhaps no more than he did on a particular night in March 2004. McGrady's whopping 62 points at home against the Washington Wizards definitely put the NBA on notice. It also shattered a Magic single game scoring record by Shaquille O'Neal (53 points). (Photo: Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
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LeBron James Near Triple-Double Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OHJune 2, 2007 - When it counted most, LeBron James had 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a Game 6, close-out victory over the Detroit Pistons in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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Tim Duncan Near Quadruple Double Where: SBC Center, San Antonio, TXJune 15, 2003 - After helping David Robinson win the NBA title in 1999, by 2003, the San Antonio Spurs were absolutely Tim Duncan's team. He proved just that in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, when Duncan nearly pulled off a quadruple-double with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and eight blocks to lead the Spurs to another title right in front of the home crowd at the SBC Center (since renamed AT&T Center). Good lord—that's the epitome of domination. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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Jermaine O'Neal 55 Points Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, INJan. 5, 2005 - Jermaine O'Neal had a pretty respectable NBA career. When the power forward/center looks back on his hoops resume, the 55-point show he put on in front of the Indiana Pacers' home crowd 10 years ago will always stand out. What's crazy is O'Neal shot 18-for-28 from the field and 19-of-25 from the line. Sheesh!(Photo: Brent Smith /Landov)
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Carmelo Anthony 45 Points Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY Dec. 11, 2012 - Carmelo Anthony's 64 points last January was an absolutely electric night at Madison Square Garden and the NBA superstar's best offensive outing ever. But the 45 points that Melo dropped on the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center back in 2012 was personal. With ties to BK and playing for the New York Knicks, Melo showed and proved for his city times two. The game also sparked a short-lived rivalry between the two New York teams. (Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)
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Brandon Jennings 55 Points Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WINov. 14, 2009 - Anything can happen on any given night in the NBA. Brandon Jennings proved that one November 2009 night, going off for 55 points, including a 29-point third quarter, at the BMO Bradley Center. The then-Milwaukee Bucks point guard not only led his team to a win over the Golden State Warriors, but he also broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's franchise rookie record. All in a night's work. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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Kevin Durant 54 Points Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OKJan. 17, 2014 - You don't have to look too far back to relive the 54-point show that Kevin Durant put on for Oklahoma City at the Chesapeake Energy Arena last January. All KD did was feed into the crowd's frenzy, giving them bucket after scintillating bucket in a win over the Golden State Warriors. During one sequence of the electric performance, Durant dropped three treys in 75 seconds. His final damages: 19-of-28 from the field and 11-of-13 from the charity stripe. (Photo: Larry W. Smith/EPA /Landov)
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Michael Jordan 'The Shot' Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT June 14, 1998 - Michael Jordan made a career of turning in killer performances on the road, none more memorable than June 14, 1998 for Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz at the then-Delta Center (now EnergySolutions Arena). After stripping Karl Malone of the ball, Jordan calmly dribbled up the court, crossed over Byron Russell, and hit such a picturesque jumper that it would immortalized as "The Shot." Greatness personified...and one of the quickest ways to hear 19,911 fans go silent.(Photo: Jeff Haynes/AFP/Getty Images)
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Kobe Bryant 60 Points Where: FedExForum, Memphis, TNMarch 22, 2007 - Kobe Bryant became the fourth player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in three straight games back in March 2007, via a 60-point performance in a Los Angeles Lakers' road win over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. The Black Mamba had 24 points at halftime and 43 entering the fourth quarter, finishing the game shooting 20-for-37 from the field and 17-of-18 from the free-throw line. Damage done. (Photo: Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
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Brandon Roy 52 PointsWhere: Moda Center, Portland, ORDec. 18 2008 - It's too bad chronic knee injuries claimed the career of Brandon Roy because the kid shot fire during his time in the NBA. None more than his sizzling 52-point performance at the Moda Center back in December 2008, powering the Portland Trail Blazers to a win over the Phoenix Suns. And to think...he had scored his previous career-high of 38 points just one week prior. (Photo: Gary C. Caskey/UPI Photo/Landov)
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Klay Thompson 52 Points Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CAJan. 23, 2015 - Klay Thompson's 52 points at Oracle Arena this past January was the closest thing to a living, breathing video-game performance that you'll ever see...especially the third quarter. That's when Klay experienced an out-of-body basketball euphoria, going a perfect 13-of-13, inclduing 9-of-9 from beyond the arc, for a smoking 37 points in that 12 minutes alone. Good lord almighty...what night for the Golden State Warriors' home crowd. Not so hot for the Sacramento Kings, though. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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Carmelo Anthony 30 Points Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, COMay 13, 2009 - Scoring 30 points in the NBA isn't exactly worthy of stats that jump off the page. However, for Carmelo Anthony, his 30 points meant his then-Denver Nuggets closing out the Dallas Mavericks in a tough Western Conference semifinals and paving the way for unchartered territory in the Western Conference Finals. We'll take a big playoff game 30 over a regular-season 50 any day. (Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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Allen Iverson 53 Points Where: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GADec. 23, 2005 - Allen Iverson did everything he possibly could to help the Philadelphia 76ers try to defeat the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena back in December 2005. But 53 points, which came on herky jerky handles and pull up jumpers and cross overs and drives to the hoop, still weren't enough, as the Hawks won. Good night for ATL, though, considering they seen The Answer go off and the home team won. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Chris Webber 29 Points, 13 Rebounds Where: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CAMay 28, 2002 - The Sacramento Kings-Los Angeles Lakers rivalry during the early 2000s was one of the most entertaining rivalries that basketball fans had ever seen. Chris Webber's 29 points and 13 rebounds not only helped the Kings defeat the Lakers in Game 5 of their Western Conference Finals series, but it also gave Sac-town a 3-2 edge, putting LA on the brink of elimination. The Lakers would win the series, though. (Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
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Anthony Davis Near Quadruple-DoubleWhere: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LAMarch 15, 2015 - Let's be clear—at just 22-years-old, Anthony Davis is going to have many, many memorable nights in the NBA. But what the All-Star did earlier this month already stands out. Davis put up a mind-boggling 36 points, 14 boards, nine blocks and seven assists in a double-overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets. All that for a New Orleans Pelicans' loss! But still, an awesome performance. (Photo: Kathleen Flynn, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune/Landov)
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Kobe Bryant 81 Points Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA Jan. 22, 2006 - Absolutely ridiculous. Absurd. Doesn't...even...make...sense. Those are all the ways to describe Kobe Bryant's unbelievable 81 points against the Toronto Raptors back on January 22, 2006 at the Staples Center. Only Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962 ranks higher. Bryant scored 27 of the Los Angeles Lakers' 42 points in the third quarter, and 28 of their 31 in the final period. (Photo: Jim Ruymen/UPI Photo/Landov)
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Charles Barkley 44 Points, 24 ReboundsWhere: America West Arena, Phoenix, AZJune 5, 1993 - Charles Barkley was hell-bent on leading the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals in 1993. That explains the ridiculous 44 points he dropped and 24 boards he grabbed in the Suns' victory over the then-Seattle SuperSonics in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals at America West Arena (now Talking Stick Resort Arena). (Photo: Steve Lipofsky/Corbis)
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Kevin Love 31 Points, 31 Rebounds Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN Nov. 12, 2010 - Sometimes you look at a stat sheet and think there's a misprint. November 12, 2010 at the Target Center in Minneapolis was one of those times. It wasn't Kevin Love's 31 points that flew off the page...but the 31 rebounds to go along with them that shocked. It was the NBA's first 30-30 game in 28 years. Monstrous. (Photo: David Joles/MCT /Landov)
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Michael Jordan 63 PointsWhere: Boston Garden, Boston, MAApr. 20, 1986 - Michael Jordan was truly ahead of his time. In cooking the Boston Celtics at the then-Boston Garden (renamed TD Garden since) for 63 points back in 1986, MJ put Larry Bird and the NBA on notice that the league's new king was here to stay and begin his reign. Message delivered via crossovers, jump shots, and dunks...plenty of them on a 22-of-41 clip from the field. (Photo: Steve Lipofsky/Corbis)
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Isiah Thomas Near Triple-Double Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MIJune 3, 1990 - Michael Jordan was throwing rocks at Isiah Thomas's basketball throne, but Zeke wasn't ready to relinquish his reign. With a trip to the 1990 NBA Finals on the line, Thomas put up 21 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds to push the Detroit Pistons past the Chicago Bulls in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals and negate MJ's 31 points, nine assists and eight boards. Clutch. (Photo: Rogers Photo Archive/Getty Images)
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Kobe Bryant 58 Points Where: Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NCDec. 29, 2006 - Just before turning the calendar to 2007, Kobe Bryant literally put the "thriller" in a triple-overtime game, churning out 58 points in a Los Angeles Lakers' loss to the Charlotte Hornets at the Time Warner Cable Arena. One of the many games Kobe went off in. (Photo: Nell Redmond/UPI Photo/Landov)
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Hakeem Olajuwon's Quadruple-Double Where: The Summit, Houston, TXMarch 29, 1990 - Numbers don't lie. Hakeem Olajuwon's stat-stuffing quadruple- double—18 points, 16 boards, 11 blocks, 10 assists—at the Summit (now Toyota Center) in a Houston Rockets' win over the Milwaukee Bucks was one of only four recorded quadruple-doubles in NBA history. Rare air. (Photo: TIm DeFrisco/CW/Getty Images)
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