What's the best single performance you watched as it happened?

[jlip]

Not highlights, no YouTube or replay of the game after you already knew the results, but in real time, sitting there watching on TV or even in person as it was happening...

While I've seen many 50+pt. game explosions, dominant playoff performances, game winners, etc. the one performance that sticks out to me was a meaningless regular season game in 2004 and lasted every bit of 33 seconds of game time. Obviously, I'm talking about T-Mac's 13 points in 33 seconds against the Spurs. I remember watching that so vividly, because I was on the phone talking to a girl at the time. The game was obviously boring up until that point, because she knew I didn't talk on the phone during a game, but I went ahead and answered the phone because, again, the game was boring. When T-Mac actually hit the game winner I yelled on the phone and tried to explain to her what I just watched. She played along like she knew what I was talking about but didn't have a clue nor really care. (Sorry... TMI) But anyways that's what first comes to mind when I think of the best single performance that I watched live.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3EqY5gPrcU#t=0m11s

[warriorfan]

Not best ever but best relative to the player was probably Stephen Jackson game 6 vs the Mavs in 2007. He went 6/7 from three while throwing off dirk with gritty D. The energy of that game and entire series was unreal.

Some others that jump out from the top of my head

Giannis 50 point close out in the Finals was up there too.

Brandon Roy’s comeback vs Dallas in 2011

[SouBeachTalents]

I don't think I can narrow it down to a singular performance that's best. I'll just go with some recent ones.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRe6f9ggG8k&ab_channel=DallasMavericks


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R_oymvo7do&ab_channel=NBA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OivHVElFI7g&ab_channel=ZHHighlights

[FultzNationRISE]

I don't think I can narrow it down to a singular performance that's best. I'll just go with some recent ones.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRe6f9ggG8k&ab_channel=DallasMavericks



I'd completely forgotten Seth Curry was once on the Mavs.

[PeroAntic]

DRose 50 points and Kobe's farewell game.

[3ba11]

.
* The switch-hands shot game - 15-18 against maximum defensive attention - it blew the doors off the Lakers

* The shrug game

* 55 vs Barkley

* 55 vs Washington in 97' Playoffs - the goat jumpshooting skill

* Game 1 walk-off in 97' Finals

* Flu Game

* Game 6

[Overdrive]

2001 Finals. First Iverson's G1 and then Shaq's near quad double in G2. Bear un mind these games started at 2:30 a.m. here.
Performance by a team. 2000 wcf g7 4th quarter. Nothing comes close.

[Gohan]

Iverson game 1 against hornets he dropped 55 of the teams 98 points

[paksat]

I watched ray allen go absolutely off in game 6 vs the sixers back in 01

I also watched the celtics with pierce and walker around 02 or somewhere start chucking 3's and not missing. That game there was unbelievable, no idea who they played against but it was in the playoffs. Celtics were chucking from all over the place and making ALL of them.

[Jasper]

game 6 title game when Giannis owned the court and established himself as one of the greatest of all time - list !!!!!!

[Axe]

Shaq's 61. Also happened exactly on his 28th birthday lmao.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OnFP0whTg9c

[TheMan]

54 vs the Knicks on Labor Day, GM3 1992 ECFs

Hell, too many to list by #23 but that game stands out because I absolutely loathed those Knicks teams. Reggie Miller's consecutive buckets vs the Knicks and doing that choke sign to the crowd, LMAO

Also that game OP listed, boring game til T-Mac exploded.

[Johnny32]

a bunch of times watching lebron. all playoffs. reg season is nice but playoffs is where unforgettable moments/games happen.

gm 5 vs det 2007
gm entire series vs orl 2009
gm 6 vs bos 2012
gm 7 vs sas 2013
gm 5/6/7 vs gsw 2016
gm 1 vs gsw 2018

[kawhileonard2]

One of these


vs. Boston, 1986 - 43.7 pts/6.3 reb/5.7 ast/2.3 stl/1.3 blk/51% FG

vs. Boston, 1987 - 35.7 pts/7.0 reb/6.0 ast/2.0 stl/2.3 blk/42% FG

vs. Cavs, 1988 - 45.2 pts/5.4 reb/4.8 ast/2+ stl/1+ blk/56% FG (back-to-back games of 50+ pts)

vs. Cavs, 1989 - 40.0 pts/5.8 reb/8.2 ast/2+ stl/1 blk/53% FG

vs. Knicks, 1989 - 35.8 pts/9.5 reb/8.3 ast/2+ stl/1 blk/55% FG

vs. Bucks, 1990 - 36.8 pts/8.0 reb/7.0 ast/3 stl/1+ blk/54% FG

vs. Philly, 1990 - 43.0 pts/6.6 reb/7.4 ast/3 stl/1+ blk/55+% FG (3 consecutive 45+ point games - 45,49,45)

vs. Detroit, 1990 - 32.1 pts/7.1 reb/6.3 ast/2+ stl/1 blk/47% FG

vs. Philly, 1991 - 33.4 pts/8.0 reb/7.8 ast/1.8 stl/1.4 blk/49% FG

vs. Lakers, 1991 - 31.2 pts/6.6 reb/11.4 ast/2.8 stl/1.4 blk/56% FG

vs. Miami, 1992 - 45.0 pts/9.7 reb/6.7 ast/3 stl/1 blk/61% FG

vs. Portland, 1992 - 35.8 pts/4.8 reb/6.5 ast/2 stl/53% FG

vs. Phoenix, 1993 - 41.0 pts/8.5 reb/6.3 ast/2 stl/1 blk/51% FG

vs. Bullets, 1997 - 37.3 pts/5.7 reb/5.3 ast/1 stl/57% FG

vs. Nets, 1998 - 36.3 pts/5.0 reb/2.8 ast/1+ stl/1 blk/53% FG


In case you're wondering, Jordan's career playoff averages upon retirement in 1993 (24 series and 111 playoff games in total) were 35.8 pts/6.7 reb/6.7 ast/2.4 stl/1.1 blk/51.5% FG. Basically a 36/7/7/2.4/1.1/52% career playoff average through age 30. Sickness.[/quote]

[MavAlbert]

One of these


vs. Boston, 1986 - 43.7 pts/6.3 reb/5.7 ast/2.3 stl/1.3 blk/51% FG

vs. Boston, 1987 - 35.7 pts/7.0 reb/6.0 ast/2.0 stl/2.3 blk/42% FG

vs. Cavs, 1988 - 45.2 pts/5.4 reb/4.8 ast/2+ stl/1+ blk/56% FG (back-to-back games of 50+ pts)

vs. Cavs, 1989 - 40.0 pts/5.8 reb/8.2 ast/2+ stl/1 blk/53% FG

vs. Knicks, 1989 - 35.8 pts/9.5 reb/8.3 ast/2+ stl/1 blk/55% FG

vs. Bucks, 1990 - 36.8 pts/8.0 reb/7.0 ast/3 stl/1+ blk/54% FG

vs. Philly, 1990 - 43.0 pts/6.6 reb/7.4 ast/3 stl/1+ blk/55+% FG (3 consecutive 45+ point games - 45,49,45)

vs. Detroit, 1990 - 32.1 pts/7.1 reb/6.3 ast/2+ stl/1 blk/47% FG

vs. Philly, 1991 - 33.4 pts/8.0 reb/7.8 ast/1.8 stl/1.4 blk/49% FG

vs. Lakers, 1991 - 31.2 pts/6.6 reb/11.4 ast/2.8 stl/1.4 blk/56% FG

vs. Miami, 1992 - 45.0 pts/9.7 reb/6.7 ast/3 stl/1 blk/61% FG

vs. Portland, 1992 - 35.8 pts/4.8 reb/6.5 ast/2 stl/53% FG

vs. Phoenix, 1993 - 41.0 pts/8.5 reb/6.3 ast/2 stl/1 blk/51% FG

vs. Bullets, 1997 - 37.3 pts/5.7 reb/5.3 ast/1 stl/57% FG

vs. Nets, 1998 - 36.3 pts/5.0 reb/2.8 ast/1+ stl/1 blk/53% FG


In case you're wondering, Jordan's career playoff averages upon retirement in 1993 (24 series and 111 playoff games in total) were 35.8 pts/6.7 reb/6.7 ast/2.4 stl/1.1 blk/51.5% FG. Basically a 36/7/7/2.4/1.1/52% career playoff average through age 30. Sickness.[/QUOTE]


absolutely INSANE

[FultzNationRISE]

https://youtu.be/1jbtt6OGLms


Edit: Didnt even notice this was the same thing OP posted until after I posted it :lol

[Round Mound]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi-oVrsJ_20

[Axe]

One of these


vs. Boston, 1986 - 43.7 pts/6.3 reb/5.7 ast/2.3 stl/1.3 blk/51% FG

vs. Boston, 1987 - 35.7 pts/7.0 reb/6.0 ast/2.0 stl/2.3 blk/42% FG

vs. Cavs, 1988 - 45.2 pts/5.4 reb/4.8 ast/2+ stl/1+ blk/56% FG (back-to-back games of 50+ pts)

vs. Cavs, 1989 - 40.0 pts/5.8 reb/8.2 ast/2+ stl/1 blk/53% FG

vs. Knicks, 1989 - 35.8 pts/9.5 reb/8.3 ast/2+ stl/1 blk/55% FG

vs. Bucks, 1990 - 36.8 pts/8.0 reb/7.0 ast/3 stl/1+ blk/54% FG

vs. Philly, 1990 - 43.0 pts/6.6 reb/7.4 ast/3 stl/1+ blk/55+% FG (3 consecutive 45+ point games - 45,49,45)

vs. Detroit, 1990 - 32.1 pts/7.1 reb/6.3 ast/2+ stl/1 blk/47% FG

vs. Philly, 1991 - 33.4 pts/8.0 reb/7.8 ast/1.8 stl/1.4 blk/49% FG

vs. Lakers, 1991 - 31.2 pts/6.6 reb/11.4 ast/2.8 stl/1.4 blk/56% FG

vs. Miami, 1992 - 45.0 pts/9.7 reb/6.7 ast/3 stl/1 blk/61% FG

vs. Portland, 1992 - 35.8 pts/4.8 reb/6.5 ast/2 stl/53% FG

vs. Phoenix, 1993 - 41.0 pts/8.5 reb/6.3 ast/2 stl/1 blk/51% FG

vs. Bullets, 1997 - 37.3 pts/5.7 reb/5.3 ast/1 stl/57% FG

vs. Nets, 1998 - 36.3 pts/5.0 reb/2.8 ast/1+ stl/1 blk/53% FG


In case you're wondering, Jordan's career playoff averages upon retirement in 1993 (24 series and 111 playoff games in total) were 35.8 pts/6.7 reb/6.7 ast/2.4 stl/1.1 blk/51.5% FG. Basically a 36/7/7/2.4/1.1/52% career playoff average through age 30. Sickness.
Ballhog.

[8Ball]

Game 6 2012 ECF LeBron.

Game 6 2016 finals LeBron.

But...

Durant 2021 vs Milwaukee game. Greatest game I ever saw from anybody honestly.

[sdot_thadon]

My favorite was always Mjs game 6 in Utah, just for the way he gutted that one out. One of the most cold blooded sports moments we've seen. And I felt it was a storybook ending for a career....until he came back lol.

Also Lebron's game 5 at Detroit was spectacular, in the sense of we knew he was good, but we had no clue how good he was or would be at that point. No one saw that coming and it was as complete a takeover of a game as we've seen. Sure he had other ones, but we came to expect those.

[kawhileonard2]

Game 6 2012 ECF LeBron.

Game 6 2016 finals LeBron.

But...

Durant 2021 vs Milwaukee game. Greatest game I ever saw from anybody honestly.

You need to watch more and not start from 2010.

[Bawkish]

My favorite was always Mjs game 6 in Utah, just for the way he gutted that one out. One of the most cold blooded sports moments we've seen. And I felt it was a storybook ending for a career....until he came back lol.

Also Lebron's game 5 at Detroit was spectacular, in the sense of we knew he was good, but we had no clue how good he was or would be at that point. No one saw that coming and it was as complete a takeover of a game as we've seen. Sure he had other ones, but we came to expect those.

Yeah i remember watching it live and i was blown away by how Bron dominated the last minute of that crucial game. Looking back it was funny because i hate Kobe back then and was thinking "Bruh, Kobe can't do this sh*t by himself" :lol

As for my fave game watching live, it was the Flu Game. I know the 1998 last shot was way more impactful but the Flu game holds something for me that cements MJ as tier above these mortals

[dawsey6]

I've seen MJ's double nickel game, '97 finals game 1, '98 finals game 6, Shaq there have been several in the '00 and '01 finals, MJ's 51 vs the hornets, Kobe's game winner vs the Suns, a few others I can't think of rn, but one that sticks out to me because he just... could.... not.... miss...

2018 Finals game 3 KD went nuts. It tends to get remembered as one of the inevitable Ls that happened after the Cavs lost game 1 with Bron scoring 51 and JR forgetting basketball. Yet, Cavs where actually playing pretty good in game 3. They did what you're supposed to do against the Warriors—lock up Steph and Klay. The Splash Bros could not buy a basket. The Cavs kept it close, but kept falling a half-step behind KD. He threw up a shot and you knew it was going in. Then in the final seconds he drops the hammer from 30 ft out over Lebron's head that was reminiscent of 2017 game 3, and walked back deadpan like he just bought a bag of apples for 1.99/lb, and you just knew there was just no reason to watch game 4. Hindsight will make it seem like anyone could have predicted the Warriors would sweep, and certainly it would have been a decent bet, but it was really KD in game 3 that made the difference.

[Sulico]

There was nothing like "37 points in a quarter" game ever, and I'm not sure there will be in my lifetime.

[jayfan]

Isiah on one leg.


.

[AlternativeAcc.]

There was nothing like "37 points in a quarter" game ever, and I'm not sure there will be in my lifetime.

Klay is insane. He's my all time starting SG. Best shooter of all time while being a plus defender. Klay!!!!!

[72-10]

In person attending the game is also one of my first, Chicago at Milwaukee, May 1, 1990, Michael scored 48 on the Bucks up in Milwaukee. I'll always recall this fadeaway Mike hit from the right baseline, it was in the third IIRC albeit at the far end of the court.

As for telecasts, I've seen so many that I'll need to think for a spell.

[FilmyCogTurner]

Bulls first visit to Vancouver in 1996 was pretty wild, I saw that game in person as a kid - the Grizz were up going into the 4th, maybe even double digits and you could tell Jordan decided the Bulls were not going to lose to an expansion team although I think Raps got them that year but MJ went off with straight buckets. Mid range jumpers and attacking the basket. I'll never forget it.