Top 10 NBA Finals performances of All-Time

5. Bob Pettit scores 50 points to upset the Boston Celtics

Bob Pettit scores 50 points to interrupt the Celtics dynasty

The Boston Celtics mightly dynasty of the 1960s went to 10 straight NBA Finals and won 11 titles in 13 years losing only once in the Finals. Meet the man who was primarily responsible to briefly interrupt this dynasty with one of the single greatest performances in the history of the NBA.

With the St. Louis Hawks leading the series 3-2, the 6-9 forward scored 50 points in Game 6 of the 1958 NBA Finals to help the Hawks win the game and the series. He was absolutely unstoppable scoring 19 of the teams' final 21 points including the game-winning tip-in with 15 seconds left in regulation.

The Hawks were determined to win Game 6 on their home floor as they had lost to the same Boston Celtics last year in an overtime Game 7 thriller. “We had to win that game,” said Pettit after the game. “We did not want to have to go to Boston to try to win Game 7.” The then head coach of the Boston Celtics, Red Auerbach, also applauded Pettit's effort that night saying, “He would play all out, whether he was 50 points ahead of 50 points behind”.

The Hawks might have won as a team that night, but without Bob's 50 point performance, things might have gone in a different way.