Los Angeles Lakers: 30 greatest individual performances in team history: 5. Elgin Baylor has arguably the greatest Finals game ever
No matter how hard Elgin Baylor tried, he simply couldn’t get the proverbial monkey off his back.
When it came to playing in the big game, Baylor was always there. The NBA legend played in seven NBA Finals throughout the course of his career. Unfortunately for him, however, he never got over the hump. With that said, it appeared as though he would in 1962.
Tied at two games apiece with the Boston Celtics, Baylor was determined to win a ring this season. He almost did as he had arguably the greatest game in Finals history. In a crucial Game 5, Baylor scored 61 points, a Finals record that is still holding strong today. He also crashed the glass, grabbing 22 rebounds.
During a time where there was no 3-point line, Baylor got all of his points the hard way but was efficient while doing it. He took 46 shots but hit 47.8% from the field. Baylor also only missed two of his 19 free throw attempts. Everything Baylor gave them that night was needed as the Lakers eked out a five-point win. And although they had all of the momentum in the world, the Lakers would lose the next two games. The Celtics also held Baylor in check, holding him to “only” 37.5 points during games six and seven.