Jordan Continues To Hold Record For Highest Average Points in a Single Playoff Series

Published on May 16th, 2024 6:28 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


The record for most average points per game in a single NBA playoff series still belongs to Michael Jordan, who averaged an eye-popping 43.67 points per game in a 1986 playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

This was an amazing series in retrospect, as it pitted a 22 year-old Michael Jordan against a Boston Celtics team that was still in its prime, as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Danny Ainge were all still in their 20s.

The Boston Celtics were heavily favored to win the series, and they ended up sweeping in three games (it was a best-of-5), despite Michael Jordan averaging an ungodly 43.67 points per game.

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In Game 1 of the series, Michael Jordan finished with 49 points on 18-36 shooting from the field.

The Bulls were overmatched by a balanced scoring attack from the Celtics, as Bird, McHale, Parish and Dennis Johnson all scored more than 20 points.

The Celtics won 123-104.

In Game 2 of the series, Michael Jordan posted one of the best games in the history of the league, as he shot 22-41 from the field to finish with 63 points. Larry Bird would later reveal that it was one of the most impressive single-game performances that he had ever seen.

Despite Jordan's heroic performance, the Bulls would lose 135-131.

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Game 3 took place back in Chicago, and it was Michael Jordan's worst performance of the series.

Jordan would finish the game with just 18 points, as he shot 8-18 from the field.

The Celtics easily rolled to victory, as all five of their starters finished with double-digit points.

The Bulls were swept, but not before Jordan broke a new NBA record that still exists to this day - most average points in a single playoff series.