Playoff Fire: The Top 5 Scoring Performances in Atlanta Hawks History

Some games aren’t won—they’re claimed. And when a player catches fire in the playoffs, the basket looks bigger, the crowd louder, and the legacy deeper.

The Atlanta Hawks, a franchise known for its grit and growth, has had its share of postseason explosions—nights when one player lifted an entire city on his shoulders. Whether it was Dominique’s defiant duel or Trae’s cold-blooded silencer, these are the top five highest individual scoring performances in Hawks playoff history.

1. Dominique Wilkins – 47 Points vs. Boston Celtics (1988)
The game is still whispered about. Game 7. Boston Garden. Wilkins vs. Bird. The duel. ‘Nique dropped 47 in one of the greatest losing performances in NBA playoff history. It wasn’t just scoring—it was soul-level artistry.

2. Trae Young – 45 Points vs. Milwaukee Bucks (2021)
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and Trae made it his stage. Floaters, logo threes, nutmegs—Young wasn’t just scoring, he was orchestrating chaos. Atlanta hasn’t seen swagger like this since Dominique.

3. Bob Pettit – 41 Points vs. St. Louis Hawks Era (Late 1950s)
Before Atlanta, there was St. Louis. And before highlight reels, there was Bob Pettit—one of the original bucket machines. His 41-point night anchored a championship-era team and set the tone for future greatness.

4. Joe Johnson – 42 Points vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (2006)
Quiet but deadly. Joe Cool’s smooth midrange and deep threes nearly pushed LeBron’s Cavs to the brink. It was a career-defining night for a player who never had to shout to be heard.

5. Trae Young – 38 Points vs. New York Knicks (2021)
His MSG debut turned into a villain origin story. Ice Trae silenced an entire arena and ignited a playoff run that redefined the modern Hawks. Every point felt like a dagger—and a declaration.

Legacy, One Shot at a Time

In the playoffs, points aren’t just points—they’re punctuation marks on legacy. For the Hawks, these five nights were more than just high-scoring games. They were statements.

Because in Atlanta, when the lights burn brightest, someone always shows up ready to torch the net.