The Highest Points Scored Against the Miami Heat in NBA History

Since entering the NBA in 1988 as an expansion franchise, the Miami Heat have seen their share of offensive explosions. From their early struggles in the Miami Arena to their championship years at American Airlines Arena, the Heat have witnessed some of the league's greatest scorers dismantle their defense. These five performances represent the very best individual scoring nights against Miami in franchise history.

1. James Harden - 58 Points

When the Houston Rockets returned to the floor at the Toyota Center for the second half on February 28, 2019, the Miami Heat held a 14-point advantage that grew to a 21-point third-quarter lead.  What happened next was one of the most remarkable comebacks and individual performances in modern basketball history.

Harden erupted for 58 points on 16-of-32 shooting, 8-of-18 from three-point range (six of which came in the fourth quarter), and a perfect 18-of-18 from the free throw line in 44 minutes. He added 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and a block as the Houston Rockets stormed back to win 121–⁠118. The performance broke Willie Burton's 25-year-old record of 53 points for the most ever scored against the Heat, and it came during Harden's historic 2018–⁠19 MVP campaign when he was posting 50-point games at a pace not seen since Wilt Chamberlain.

2. Willie Burton - 53 Points

On December 13, 1994, Willie Burton delivered one of the most unexpected and efficient 50-point games in NBA history. Playing for the Philadelphia 76ers against his former team, the Heat franchise that had drafted him ninth overall in 1990 and then waived him just a month before this game, Burton poured in 53 points on an efficient 12-of-19 shooting, 5-of-8 from three-point range, and 24-of-28 from the free-throw line in 43 minutes.

Burton added 8 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and 2 blocks as the 76ers rolled to a 105–⁠90 victory at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. In addition to setting his career high, what made this scoring outburst even more impressive was Burton's consistency, at one point making 16 consecutive field goals, and his 24 made free throws set a 76ers franchise record that still stands today. 

3. Isaiah Thomas - 53 Points

On the night before New Year's Eve 2016, Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas put on one of the most memorable individual performances in franchise history. The 5-foot-9 guard erupted for a career-high 52 points on 15-of-26 shooting, 9-of-13 from three-point range, and a perfect 13-of-13 from the free throw line in just 37 minutes as the Celtics defeated the Heat 117–⁠114 at TD Garden.

In what would be his second straight All-Star season, what elevated this performance to legendary status was Thomas' fourth-quarter dominance, as he scored 29 of his 52 points in the final period, setting a Celtics franchise record for points in a single quarter and falling just two points short of Wilt Chamberlain's NBA record of 31 points in a quarter. Thomas was unconscious, hitting six three-pointers in the fourth, earning "MVP!" chants from the Boston crowd. 

4. Jamal Crawford - 52 Points

Jamal Crawford delivered one of the most electrifying scoring performances in New York Knicks history on January 26, 2007, torching the defending champion Miami Heat for 52 points at Madison Square Garden. Crawford shot an incredible 20-of-30 from the field, 8-of-10 from three-point range, and 4-of-4 from the free throw line in just 39 minutes as the Knicks dominated 116–⁠96.

The highlight of Crawford's night was the second quarter, in which he scored 20 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting, including four three-pointers that helped the Knicks take a 65–⁠49 halftime lead. At one point, Crawford made 16 consecutive field goals, and he was pulled from the game with over seven minutes remaining after the outcome was decided. 

5. LeBron James - 51 Points

LeBron James returned to Miami on November 18, 2018, in his first trip back to American Airlines Arena as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. With little in the way of support aside from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma, James dropped 51 points on 19-of-31 shooting, 6-of-8 from three-point range, and 7-of-10 from the free throw line in 38 minutes, leading the Lakers to a dominant 113–⁠97 victory.

James put on an entire offensive arsenal, including dunks in transition, stepback three-pointers, and turnarounds from the baseline. He made eight of his first nine shots, almost scoring at will against his former team. The performance was capped by a 32-foot three-pointer in the final seconds.