4th (Tied): Julius Erving – 36 points

76ers (vs. celtics) – April 17, 1977

In another classic series against the Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers were the top-seeded team in the East in the 1977 season. Back then, the top two teams in their respective conferences advanced to the conference semifinals.

Erving or more known as “Dr. J” was able to put up 36 points in his first playoff game in the NBA after the merger with his maiden league ABA. Boston still won that first game thanks to Jojo White’s game-winner, but Philly took the series in seven games.

Erving then led the team to the NBA Finals but fell short against the Portland Trail Blazers. Regardless of the loss, Julius Erving was able to introduce himself not only to the league’s elite players but to the NBA community as one of the top players in the world.

4th (Tied): Gary Brokaw – 36 points

Bucks (vs. Pistons) – April 13, 1976

Brokaw might not be a well-known name around the basketball community, but he became a pleasant surprise for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1976 NBA Playoffs. The shooting guard led in the scoring column in Game 1 of their match-up against the Detroit Pistons.

He tallied 36 points and led the Bucks to a 110-107 win over the Pistons. However, the Pistons eventually won the next two games in which the second one wrapped up the series.

Brokaw then played the next season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and ended his NBA career in 1978 with the Buffalo Braves. He played a total of 241 games and compiled career total points of 1,928. He then transitioned into college coaching before getting another stint with the NBA in 2004 as director of basketball operations and assistant coach with the Charlotte Bobcats.

His career as an NBA player may have been short-lived, but he still continues to prepare the next generation of basketball elites through the private coaching service, CoachUp.