On This Day (May 1)

Notable events from NBA history that occurred on May 1.

Jordan Makes History

On this day in 1988, the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan scored 55 points in a 106-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference First Round series. Jordan — who scored 50 points in Game 1 — became the first (and still only) player in NBA history to record back-to-back 50-point games in the playoffs.

Jordan shot 24-45 from the field and made all seven of his free throws. Jordan tied the NBA record for most field goals made in a playoff game (a mark he still shares) and set a franchise record for most field goals attempted in a playoff game (a mark he still owns).

Jordan averaged 45.2 PPG in this series, the second-highest scoring average in a postseason series in NBA history. This was one of five times Jordan averaged at least 40 PPG in a playoff series, one more than all other players in NBA history combined (Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Rick Barry, and Bernard King, once apiece).