Biggest blowouts in NBA playoff history: Knicks set records in rout of Hawks
The New York Knicks made some NBA playoff history on Thursday night.
Holding a 3-2 series lead entering Game 6, the Knicks came out and blitzed the Hawks in Atlanta, taking an 83-36 lead into the half. That marked the largest halftime lead ever held in an NBA playoff game, per ESPN.
Up 47 points at the half, and leading 117-64 after three quarters, the Knicks had a shot at authoring the biggest blowout win in NBA playoff history but ultimately came up just short with the entire second half effectively rendered garbage time. At one point they led by 61 points, a record in a playoff game in the play-by-play era, per ESPN.
The Knicks won 140-89, their 51-point margin of victory still easily good enough for a top 10 spot on the list of biggest playoff blowouts, and advance to the second round, where they will play the winner of the Celtics-Sixers series. The Knicks' 140 points are a franchise record for a playoff game, per ESPN.
Here's a look at the biggest blowouts in NBA playoff history:
Biggest blowouts in NBA playoff history
Via StatMuse:
- 1 (tie). 58 points - Denver Nuggets over New Orleans Pelicans, 121-63, April 27, 2009
- 1 (tie). 58 points - Minneapolis Lakers over St .Louis Hawks, 133-75, March 19, 1956
- 3. 56 points - Los Angeles Lakers over Golden State Warriors, 126-70, April 21, 1973
- 4. 55 points - Cleveland Cavaliers over Miami Heat, 138-83, April 28, 2025
- 5. 54 points - Chicago Bulls over Milwaukee Bucks, 120-66, April 30, 2015
- 6 (tie). 51 points - Oklahoma City Thunder over Memphis Grizzlies, 131-80, April 20, 2025
- 6 (tie). 51 points - New York Knicks over Atlanta Hawks, 140-89, April 30, 2026
- 8. 50 points - Milwaukee Bucks over San Francisco Warriors, 136-86, April 4, 1971
- 9 (tie). 47 points - Orlando Magic over Boston Celtics, 124-77, April 28, 1995
- 9 (tie). 47 points - Los Angeles Lakers over San Antonio Spurs, 135-88, April 17, 1986
- 11. 45 points - Minnesota Timberwolves over Denver Nuggets, 115-70, May 16, 2024