#3 63 points vs Boston on April 20, 1986
This game might be the most memorable of all of Jordan's 60 point games. It was a Playoff game in the famed Boston Garden, against one of the greatest teams of all time, the eventual NBA champions, in a season where he only played 18 games due to a broken foot, defying Bulls management to come back and play because he couldn't stand to sit out anymore.
It also inspired a famous quote by opponent Larry Bird, who had just locked up a third straight MVP, "He is the most exciting, awesome player in the game today. I think it's just God disguised as Michael Jordan."
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Some might want to discount the game because it happened in double overtime and the Bulls still lost, but when you consider the opponent and the fact they finished the season 50-1 at home, the criticism just doesn't hold up. He finished 22-41 from the field, again no three-pointers, while knocking down 19-21 from the free throw line.
MJ lived from 18 feet and in this game, destroying single coverage and any double team that the Celtics threw at him with a sublime midrange jumper and a quick first step Boston just couldn't handle. While it is easy to just point to his point and minutes (53 played) total as evidence of his relentlessness, he also accumulated 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, showing the world he was no one trick pony. People knew that MJ was going to be a star, but this playoff performance in just his second season left no doubt that he was now a superstar.
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