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Most assists in an NBA Playoffs game: Full list of postseason single-game passing records all time

2024-04-20
4 min read
(NBA Getty Images)

The 2024 NBA Playoffs are underway, and as the saying goes, "Records are made to be broken."

When the best teams and players go head-to-head, greatness is bound to happen. We've seen insane scoring performances in the NBA this season, and someone has to put these prolific offensive players in a position to get a bucket.

The "traditional point guard" might be a fading art, but there are still some incredible passers participating in this year's postseason.

Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton dished out a season-best 23 assists in a 2023-24 game. Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic are two of the best playmakers in the NBA today, each topping out at 18 assists in a single game this season.

MORE: Why Nikola Jokic is SN's NBA Player of the Year — again

You can also never looked Lakers star LeBron James, who had 17 assists in a game a few days before the season ended.

Will any of these players challenge the NBA Playoffs' single-game assist record?

Most assists in an NBA Playoffs game

The NBA Playoffs single-game assist leaderboard is dominated by Magic Johnson and John Stockton.

Johnson and Stockton share the NBA Playoffs record for the most assists in a game with 24. Johnson is responsible for 10 of the 20-highest assist games in playoff history.

Steve Nash challenged the single-game playoff assists record back in 2007. He and Rajon Rondo are the only two players to dish out 20 or more assists in a playoff game since 2000.

MORE: LeBron James, Kevin Durant headline 2024 U.S. Olympic basketball roster

Rank Player Assists Year Result
T1 John Stockton 24 1988 West Finals: Game 5 Lakers 111, Jazz 109
  Magic Johnson 24 1984 West Finals: Game 2 Lakers 118, Suns 108
T3 Steve Nash 23 2007 West First Round: Game 4 Suns 113, Lakers 1000
  John Stockton 23 1996 West First Round: Game 1 Jazz 110, Trail Blazers 102
  Magic Johnson 23 1985 West Semis: Game 3 Lakers 130, Trail Blazers 126
6 Doc Rivers 22 1988 East Semis: Game 4 Hawks 118, Celtics 109
T7 Rajon Rondo 21 2018 West Semis: Game 3 Pelicans 119, Warriors 100
  John Stockton 21 1992 West First Round: Game 1 Jazz 115, Clippers 97
  Magic Johnson 21 1991 West Finals: Game 1 Lakers 111, Trail Blazers 106
  Magic Johnson 21 1991 West First Round: Game 2 Lakers 109, Rockets 98
  Magic Johnson 21 1984 NBA Finals: Game 3 Lakers 137, Celtics 104
12 Rajon Rondo 20 2011 East First Round: Game 3 Celtics 113, Knicks 96
  Magic Johnson 20 1991 NBA Finals: Game 5 Bulls 108, Lakers 101
  Tim Hardaway 20 1991 West Semis: Game 5 Lakers 124, Warriors 119
  Magic Johnson 20 1989 West Finals: Game 4 Lakers 122, Suns 117
  Magic Johnson 20 1988 West Finals: Game 5 Lakers 119, Mavericks 102
  John Stockton 20 1988 West Semis: Game 7 Lakers 109, Jazz 98
  Magic Johnson 20 1987 NBA Finals: Game 2 Lakers 141, Celtics 122
  Magic Johnson 20 1986 West Finals: Game 3 Rockets 117, Lakers 109
  Johnny Moore 20 1983 West Semis: Game 2 Spurs 126, Nuggets 109