Defense wins championships. You’ve heard it a thousand times. Every coach from high school to the pros preaches that "stops" are the only currency that matters in the postseason. But honestly? Sometimes the hoop just looks like the size of the ocean, and every single shot finds the bottom of the net.
On May 11, 1992, defense didn't just take the night off—it was basically locked out of the building.
The Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns combined to create the highest scoring nba playoff game in history, a double-overtime marathon that ended with a scoreline you’d expect from an All-Star Game, not a gritty Western Conference Semifinal. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum read Portland 153, Phoenix 151.
304 points.
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That is a lot of basketball. To put that in perspective, teams today—even in the modern era of high-volume three-point shooting—rarely sniff a combined 300 points in a regulation game. This was 1992. The pace was fast, but the floor spacing was nothing like what we see today. People were driving into traffic and hitting mid-range jumpers at a clip that felt illegal.
The Night the Nets Melted
This wasn't some early-season blowout where the starters sat the fourth quarter. It was Game 4. The stakes were massive. Portland was trying to take a commanding 3-1 lead, while Phoenix was desperate to even things up before heading back to Oregon.
Usually, when you see a score this high, you assume it was a "track meet" where nobody tried to guard anyone. But that’s not really the whole story. If you go back and watch the tape, the shot-making was just... absurd.
Kevin Johnson, the Suns' lightning-bolt point guard, was a problem all night. He finished with 35 points and 14 assists. He was basically living in the paint, either finishing over Jerome Kersey or kicking it out to guys like Tom Chambers. Speaking of Chambers, he came off the bench and looked like he hadn't missed a shot since the mid-80s. He dropped 29 points on just 15 shots. Efficiency wasn't even a buzzword back then, but he was the definition of it.
On the other side, Portland had their own two-headed monster. Clyde "The Glide" Drexler was in his absolute prime. He had 33 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds. He was everywhere. But the real unsung hero of the highest scoring nba playoff game was Terry Porter.
Porter was the heartbeat of that Blazers team. He finished with 31 points and 14 assists, but more importantly, he only turned the ball over once. In a game that lasted 58 minutes and featured over 200 possessions, turning the ball over only once is practically a miracle.
Why This Record Still Stands
You might think that in 2026, with the way guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Donovan Mitchell can score, this record would be in danger every other Tuesday. It’s not.
Look at the math. To hit 304 points, you don't just need high scoring; you need two teams that are perfectly matched. You need the game to stay close enough to force overtime, but high-scoring enough that the scoring doesn't stall out during the "grind" of those extra periods.
We saw a scare in 2021. The Denver Nuggets and the Trail Blazers (Portland again!) went to double overtime. Damian Lillard had one of the most insane games I’ve ever seen—55 points, 12 threes. That game finished 147-140. That's 287 points. Incredible, right? Still 17 points short of the 1992 record.
The 1992 game was a statistical anomaly because of the sheer volume of "and-one" plays and free throws. Portland shot 53 free throws. Phoenix shot 50. That’s 103 trips to the stripe. The game lasted forever. Fans who were there probably felt like they’d aged a decade by the time they walked out into the Phoenix night.
The Top Combined Scoring Games in Playoff History
| Total Points | Matchup | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 304 | Portland at Phoenix | May 11, 1992 | 153-151 (2OT) |
| 287 | Portland at Denver | June 1, 2021 | 140-147 (2OT) |
| 285 | Denver at San Antonio | April 26, 1983 | 133-152 |
| 285 | New York at Boston | April 28, 1990 | 128-157 |
| 280 | Seattle at Dallas | April 23, 1987 | 129-151 |
It’s interesting that the 1990 Celtics-Knicks game is tied for third. Boston scored 157 points in that game. 157! And they did it in regulation. No overtime. That is still the record for the most points scored by a single team in a playoff game. Kevin McHale and Larry Bird basically treated the Knicks like a scrimmage squad.
The "Madhouse" Environment
The game was played at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, affectionately known as "The Madhouse on McDowell." It was a fitting name. The place was loud, cramped, and humid.
By the second overtime, everyone was gassed. Kevin Johnson eventually fouled out. Danny Ainge, who was playing for Portland at the time (yeah, remember that?), hit four huge three-pointers. He was the only guy on either team who seemed to realize the three-point line existed, as he made 4 of the 9 total threes made in the entire game.
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Think about that. In the highest scoring nba playoff game ever, the two teams only combined for nine three-pointers. In today’s NBA, a team might take nine threes in the first six minutes. The 1992 record was built on a foundation of mid-range jumpers, post-ups, and relentless transition play.
Lessons for the Modern Bettor and Fan
If you're looking at historical trends, there are a few things to keep in mind when hunting for high-scoring playoff matchups.
- Pace isn't everything: The 1992 game had a high pace, but the foul rate was what pushed it over the edge. High-scoring games often come down to who can get to the line when the legs get heavy.
- The "Lillard Effect": One superstar going nuclear (like Dame in 2021) can get you close, but you need four or five guys in the 20-30 point range to actually break a record.
- Venue matters: Older arenas often had "hotter" rims or different lighting that players swore helped them shoot better. Whether it's true or psychological, the Madhouse certainly lived up to the hype.
What Happened Next?
Portland won that game to go up 3-1 and eventually closed out the series in five games. They went all the way to the NBA Finals that year, only to run into the buzzsaw that was Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
As for the record? It’s been 34 years. We’ve seen the rise of the "Seven Seconds or Less" Suns, the Golden State Dynasty, and the positionless basketball of 2025-26. Records are meant to be broken, but 304 points in a playoff setting feels like one of those Wilt Chamberlain stats—the kind that might just stay on the books forever.
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If you want to understand the history of the league, you have to look at games like this. It wasn't just a shootout; it was a testament to the conditioning and skill of the early 90s era.
To dig deeper into the stats of this era, check out the official NBA historical archives or head over to Basketball Reference to see the full box score for May 11, 1992. You’ll see names like Jerome Kersey and Dan Majerle putting up numbers that would make modern fantasy owners weep with joy.
Actionable Insights for NBA Fans:
- Watch the Tape: Look for highlights of the 1992 Blazers-Suns series on YouTube. The physicality combined with the scoring is a glimpse into a transitional era of basketball.
- Monitor Team Pace: If you're following the current 2026 playoffs, keep an eye on teams like the Thunder or the Pacers. They play at a pace that could, on a very weird night, threaten these aggregate totals.
- Appreciate the Mid-Range: This record proves you don't need 40 three-pointers to score 150 points. It’s a masterclass in the "lost art" of the 15-foot jumper.