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About this Board
On Friday, September 25, 2 players took on NBA Deep Cut #2: “Name a player who scored 40+ points in a playoff game since 2000-01.” The prompt had 74 valid answers, and players found 3 of them. Correct answers score more the fewer people name them, so the deepest cuts are the ones worth the most.
Answers and recap (spoilers)
The most popular answer was Dirk Nowitzki, named by 50% of players. The rarest correct answer anyone found was Jalen Williams (1 player, 85 points). Nobody found the day's Sleeper: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Named by players
- Dirk Nowitzki (Dirk Nowitzki (F · DAL · 1998–2019)): 1 player, 50%, 19 points. Best playoff game since 2000-01: 50 points (2005-06 playoffs)
- Paul George (Paul George (F · IND, OKC, LAC, PHI, BOS · 2010–2027)): 1 player, 50%, 34 points. Best playoff game since 2000-01: 41 points (2020-21 playoffs)
- Jalen Williams (Jalen Williams (G-F · OKC · 2022–2027)): 1 player, 50%, 85 points. Best playoff game since 2000-01: 40 points (2024-25 playoffs)
Nobody named
- LeBron James: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 51 points (2017-18 playoffs)
- Tim Duncan: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 41 points (2005-06 playoffs)
- Kobe Bryant: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 50 points (2005-06 playoffs)
- Tony Parker: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 43 points (2008-09 playoffs)
- Shaquille O'Neal: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 44 points (2000-01 playoffs)
- Paul Pierce: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 46 points (2001-02 playoffs)
- James Harden: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 45 points (2022-23 playoffs)
- Ray Allen: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 51 points (2008-09 playoffs)
- Chris Paul: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 41 points (2020-21 playoffs)
- Reggie Miller: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 41 points (2000-01 playoffs)
- Vince Carter: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 50 points (2000-01 playoffs)
- Kevin Durant: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 50 points (2018-19 playoffs)
- Russell Westbrook: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 51 points (2016-17 playoffs)
- Dwyane Wade: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 46 points (2009-10 playoffs)
- Dwight Howard: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 46 points (2010-11 playoffs)
- Stephen Curry: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 50 points (2022-23 playoffs)
- Steve Nash: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 48 points (2004-05 playoffs)
- Chauncey Billups: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 40 points (2002-03 playoffs)
- Paul Millsap: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 45 points (2015-16 playoffs)
- Carmelo Anthony: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 42 points (2010-11 playoffs)
- Klay Thompson: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 41 points (2015-16 playoffs)
- Sam Cassell: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 40 points (2003-04 playoffs)
- DeMar DeRozan: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 41 points (2021-22 playoffs)
- Jrue Holiday: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 41 points (2017-18 playoffs)
- Rajon Rondo: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 44 points (2011-12 playoffs)
- Richard Hamilton: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 40 points (2005-06 playoffs)
- Jimmy Butler III: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 56 points (2022-23 playoffs)
- Kawhi Leonard: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 45 points (2020-21 playoffs)
- LaMarcus Aldridge: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 46 points (2013-14 playoffs)
- Jaylen Brown: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 40 points (2023-24 playoffs)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 50 points (2020-21 playoffs)
- Elton Brand: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 40 points (2005-06 playoffs)
- Nikola Jokic: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 53 points (2022-23 playoffs)
- Allen Iverson: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 55 points (2002-03 playoffs)
- Carlos Boozer: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 41 points (2006-07 playoffs)
- Nick Van Exel: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 40 points (2002-03 playoffs)
- Anthony Johnson: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 40 points (2005-06 playoffs)
- Damian Lillard: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 55 points (2020-21 playoffs)
- Kyrie Irving: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 42 points (2016-17 playoffs)
- CJ McCollum: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 41 points (2018-19 playoffs)
- Khris Middleton: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 42 points (2023-24 playoffs)
- Amar'e Stoudemire: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 42 points (2009-10 playoffs)
- Tracy McGrady: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 46 points (2002-03 playoffs)
- Jayson Tatum: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 51 points (2022-23 playoffs)
- Anthony Davis: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 47 points (2017-18 playoffs)
- Norman Powell: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 42 points (2022-23 playoffs)
- Jason Richardson: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 42 points (2009-10 playoffs)
- Gordon Hayward: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 40 points (2016-17 playoffs)
- Jamal Murray: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 50 points (2019-20 playoffs)
- Devin Booker: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 49 points (2023-24 playoffs)
- Donovan Mitchell: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 57 points (2019-20 playoffs)
- Derrick Rose: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 44 points (2010-11 playoffs)
- Jalen Brunson: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 47 points (2023-24 playoffs)
- Ben Gordon: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 42 points (2008-09 playoffs)
- John Wall: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 42 points (2016-17 playoffs)
- Bonzi Wells: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 45 points (2002-03 playoffs)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 42 points (2025-26 playoffs)
- Joel Embiid: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 50 points (2023-24 playoffs)
- Luka Doncic: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 46 points (2020-21 playoffs)
- Michael Redd: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 40 points (2005-06 playoffs)
- Gilbert Arenas: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 44 points (2005-06 playoffs)
- Isaiah Thomas: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 53 points (2016-17 playoffs)
- Anthony Edwards: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 44 points (2023-24 playoffs)
- Trae Young: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 48 points (2020-21 playoffs)
- Tyrese Maxey: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 46 points (2023-24 playoffs)
- Ja Morant: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 47 points (2021-22 playoffs)
- Ayo Dosunmu: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 43 points (2025-26 playoffs)
- Brandon Roy: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 42 points (2008-09 playoffs)
- Cade Cunningham: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 45 points (2025-26 playoffs)
- Paolo Banchero: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 45 points (2025-26 playoffs)
- Victor Wembanyama: Best playoff game since 2000-01: 41 points (2025-26 playoffs)
Missed it? Every past day is in the NBA archive, ready to play blind. Here’s how scoring works.