5 oldest players to score 40+ points in an NBA Playoffs game 

#3 LeBron James (35 years and 284 days) - 2020 NBA Playoffs

Phoenix Suns vs LA Lakers - Game Six

NBA legend LeBron James is showing no signs of slowing down and may even go first on this list by the time he decides to call time on his illustrious career. He won his fourth NBA Championship with the LA Lakers last year and was also named the Finals MVP.

However, his only 40-point playoff game for the Lakers came in a losing cause against the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals. James scored 42 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in the game, doing so on 15-of-21 shooting from the floor, including six threes. However, the 17-time champions stumbled to a 108-111 defeat in a close contest.

The Lakers also missed the chance to wrap the series and had to play a Game 6, where they lifted the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the 17th time.

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#2 Chris Paul (36 years, 55 days) - 2021 NBA Playoffs

Phoenix Suns v LA Clippers - Game Six

Chris Paul is another active player who could become the oldest player to have a 40-point game in an NBA Playoff game by the time he retires. The 36-year-old achieved the feat against the LA Clippers in the ongoing 2021 NBA Playoffs.

Paul struggled throughout the series. With his team on the cusp of squandering a 3-1 series lead, he stepped up in the closeout Game 6 after failing to clinch the series in the previous match. He shot close to 67% from the floor, made 7-of-8 threes and recorded zero turnovers to round off a brilliant individual putting.

The Suns will now face either the Atlanta Hawks or the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals.

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#1 Karl Malone (36 years and 273 days) - 2000 NBA Playoffs

Karl Malone

It has been more than two decades since Karl Malone became the oldest player to score 40+ points in an NBA Playoffs game. Malone dominated the Seattle SuperSonics, leading the Utah Jazz to a comfortable Game-1 win in round one of the 2000 NBA Playoffs.

He scored 50 points and 13 rebounds on 18-of-32 shooting from the floor and also made three steals and a block, delivering an all-around performance for his team. The Jazz beat the SuperSonics 104-93.