Favorite NBA single game perfomance by player, anywhere anytime.

[Reality]

Tough to limit it down to one choice for me.
Bird in the 81 Finals virtually averaged a triple double.  24/9.7/9.5 but i enjoyed his 84 Laker spanking better.
Timmy Dunks
SuperManu
Cornbread Maxwell doing 24/8/8 in Game 7s Finals win in 1984 is a lesser known but appreciated one.
Mo Malone and Dr. J. putting an absolute asphixiation on Marketingball in 1983.
Isiah Thomas sprained ankle 25 points in the 4th was very impressive.


I'll have to think about this.
You?

[westkoast]

Out of games I can remember off the top of my head:

Kobe Bryant putting up 48 points and 16 rebounds in a close out game on the road against the Kings in 2001 playoffs in which the Lakers swept em.

Reggie Miller's game where he drilled all those shots because Spike Lee pissed him off.  Especially that barrage with the 3 then a steal then another 3 and then another jumper.  That was brutal and I'll never forget that game.

Of course Magic's game 4 against Boston in '87

[Joe Vancil]

Favorite game by a player, all-time:

John Stockton, 1993-94 playoffs, Game 4 of the First Round vs. San Antonio, 4th quarter.

The Jazz scored 24 points in the 4th to win the game tied after 3.  Stockton had 11 assists and one steal in the 4th quarter, to account for all 24 points (he didn't get an assist on the steal, since another pass was made afterward, but it was his steal that led to that basket). 

Most incredible display of passing I've ever seen, and most dominant performance I've ever seen from a PASSER.  Just plain amazing.


Single favorite play:

Bobby Jones, during the "Dr. J behind-the-basket" game in the 1980 Finals against the Lakers.  Bobby Jones blocks Mark Landsberger's break-away basket by cutting in front of him, ducking underneath the basket to avoid hitting his head as he block the shot.  Basically the Tayshaun Prince/Reggie Miller block, except that Jones outran everyone, cut IN FRONT of Landsberger, and blocked the shot while flying backward, ducking under the backboard.

Favorite single offensive play:

From the Stockton game above, Stockton throwing a kick-up bounce-pass to an empty spot on the court under the goal.  Just as it looks like it's a ridiculous turnover, Tom Chambers comes from NOWHERE to catch the pass on the run, on its way up, for the score.

Favorite in-person play:

Bobby Jones steal falling out-of-bounds and saving the ball in-bounds for a fast break against Kansas City Kings in Kansas City in 1985.  Kings' final year in Kansas City.

Favorite single offensive play in person:

Same KC/Philadelphia game:  Moses Malone in the middle leading the fast break with Charles Barkley on the wing.  One of the funniest things I've ever seen.