Have you ever felt so disappointed with your team’s performance, that you started wondering what was the lowest score achieved in an NBA game? Don’t worry, modern NBA teams have almost no chance of breaking this record, as it comes from a 1950 game between Pistons and Lakers, which ended with a total of 37 points. The lowest score in the NBA was one of the main reasons for the introduction of the shot clock to the game. This article will look at some extraordinary records and amazing feats throughout basketball’s illustrious history.
From unbelievable games to standout performances that shocked even the most knowledgeable fans and experts, these are the stories of the lowest-scoring games and highest scoreboards in professional basketball history. So buckle up, as we dive into the world of the lowest scores ever seen in the NBA court.
Lowest Scoring Game: Pistons vs. Lakers, 37 Points
The lowest scoring game in the NBA’s history was a match-up between the Fort Wayne Pistons and the Minneapolis Lakers on the 22nd of November, 1950. The Pistons won the game with a final score of 19-18, which is the lowest number of points ever scored by two teams in a single game. The Pistons employed a strategy of holding the ball for a long time before the game timer ran out in order to win the game.
The Pistons were led by John Oldham with 5 points, while the Lakers were led by Vern Mikkelsen with 6 points. The last quarter saw only 4 points scored, but winning it 3-1 by the Pistons, helped them beat the opponents by one point and bring the victory home.
What Is the Lowest Score by One Team in an NBA Match?
The lowest score in a modern NBA match was a battle of epic proportions. In 1999, the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat clashed in game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals – with the Bulls scoring just 49 points, making it the second-lowest score in NBA history and still standing as the lowest score by one team in the shot clock era.
Led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen during regular season play, this 1998-99 season marked their first absence from playing for the Bulls. On that fateful day against Miami, they shot a dismal 21.7 percent from field goal attempts – only managing to make 16 out of 67 shots!
The lowest points total for a team in an NBA finals game also belongs to the Bulls as well; they scored 54 points against Utah Jazz back in 1998 – shooting 33.3 percent from field goals and making 18 out of 54 attempts. Being a fan of the Chicago Bulls in that season was very traumatic, as the team set two different records for lowest-scoring game, finishing the season with a 13-37 record
What Is The Lowest Combined Score In An NBA Playoff Game?
The lowest combined score in an NBA playoff game is a dismal 66-57, which occurred between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons in the 2002 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Both teams had awful shooting performances – the Celtics shot just 34.7 percent from the field while the Pistons managed 40.3 percent.
The Pistons tried to stifle their opponents with their usual defensive strategy, but it was not enough to stop the Celtics from making more shots than them and winning this low-scoring match. Rasheed Wallace led all scorers for Detroit with 14 points, while Paul Pierce topped Boston’s scoreboard with 13 points.
This was no ordinary game – it marked a historic moment as it was the lowest-scoring NBA playoff match since 1954 when they introduced the shot clock, and once again the team with Pistons in their name became the inglorious record-holders.
What Is The Highest Scoring Game In NBA History?
On the other hand, the teams from Detroit and Denver participated in the highest-scoring game in NBA history. It was a Pistons vs. Denver Nuggets match-up, where the two teams combined for an astonishing 370 points.
This record still stands today and is even more impressive when compared to the lowest-scoring game in NBA history – the 1950 game between the Pistons and the Minneapolis Lakers. If the fans during the 1950 Pistons and Lakers match wanted to see 370 points in a game, they would have to watch their teams play 10 games in a row, and I highly doubt anyone would do this willingly!
This huge difference in scores shows just how much has changed since the introduction of the shot clock into the NBA. It’s clear that this rule change has had a massive impact on basketball as we know it today, making games faster-paced, higher scoring, and certainly more entertaining for the fans!
What Is The Highest Scoring Quarter By A Single Player In NBA League History?
The record for the highest scoring quarter by a single player in NBA league history is quite recent and belongs to Klay Thompson, who scored 37 points in one quarter. During the 2015 match between Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings, Klay Thompson scored 37 points in 15 minutes in the 3rd quarter. In 13 throws, he kept a 100% accuracy, and even managed to add one assist to his score.
Not long ago, on 14th March 2022, Karl-Anthony Towns was close to beating the record in a match between Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs. The Dominican-American scored 32 points, but played for only 12 minutes, which gives 8 points per 3 minutes – should he keep up the trend and played the whole quarter, he would beat the highest scoring quarter record by 3 points. What is even more impressive is the fact that he managed to get 6 rebounds as well, which puts him in a 3rd place in the ranking.
What Are The Fewest Points Scored In A Quarter?
The fewest points scored in a quarter is a record which comes to players and coaches only in their worst nightmares. San Antonio Spurs set this record back in 2010 against the Minnesota Timberwolves – they ended the third quarter with zero points and went on to lose the game. Even the lowest scoring game in history, with a total of 37 points between both teams, saw them score at least one point in every quarter.
Other teams have come close, but none have been able to match what the Spurs did. The Cleveland Cavaliers almost joined the 0-pointers club when they only managed four points during their third quarter against Toronto Raptors; while Boston Celtics came close too, scoring five points during their fourth quarter against Philadelphia 76ers.
To achieve such a disgraceful feat requires both strong defensive play from opponents as well as poor offensive execution from your own team. Teams must be aware of their opponents’ strategies and adjust accordingly if they want to break this record – by playing solid defense and limiting other teams’ scoring opportunities, you could make history and most likely cause a lot of changes in your opponents’ line-up for the future matches.
The records in a pill
The records collected in this article are truly remarkable achievements by the players and teams that realized them. The lowest scoring game of 37 points between the Fort Wayne Pistons and Minneapolis Lakers is a testament to the defensive play of both teams, while the highest scoring game of 370 points set by the Pistons and Denver Nuggets showcases the exciting offensive production possible in the NBA. There is perhaps nowhere else in sport that offers such incredible diversity in record-breaking performances throughout its history.
With so many incredible individual and team performances throughout the decades, NBA enthusiasts will continue to debate which records were the most remarkable and difficult to break.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the lowest scoring NBA game by one team?
On November 22, 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons held the Minneapolis Lakers to just 18 points, in what still stands as the lowest scoring game by one team in NBA history.
This is an impressive feat, considering the average score of an NBA game is around 100 points. It is a testament to the defensive prowess of the Pistons, who were able to shut down the Lakers’ offense and keep them from scoring.
Who scored 0 points in the NBA?
Benjamin David “Ben” Simmons (born 20 July 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Louisiana State University, only spending one year with the program before being selected by the 76ers with the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.
Simmons scored 0 points when playing against the Celtics on January 13, 2023.
What is the lowest NBA score in the last 10 years?
The lowest-scoring NBA game in the last 10 years had a score of 69-65. This was the result of a match between the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2014, as reported by ESPN Stats & Info.
What’s the worst record in NBA history?
The Charlotte Bobcats hold the record for the worst NBA team in history after they went 7–41 and lost 104–84 to the New York Knicks on April 26, 2012, clinching the worst record in NBA history in a shortened season or otherwise.
This record was set during a season that was shortened due to the 2011 NBA lockout. The Bobcats had the worst winning percentage in NBA history, with a 12,2% winning percentage. This was the lowest winning percentage in NBA history, surpassing the previous record of 13% set by the 1972–73 Philadelphia 76ers.
What is the lowest NBA score from the last 10 years?
In the last decade, the lowest points scored was 56 by both the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks.
