When Michael Jordan made history with consecutive 50-point postseason games

Michael Jordan is well remembered for his role in the legendary 1990s Chicago Bulls era, which included six titles and five MVPs. However, he was already making history long before then. During the 1988 playoffs, His Ainress did something no one had ever done before in NBA history by dropping back-to-back 50-point games.

In a two-game stretch in the first round, No. 23 cemented his reputation as the ultimate postseason performer, another chapter in the growing legend of MJ, a player who seemed to defy the limits of what was possible on the basketball court. He scored 63 points two years earlier in a playoff game at the Boston Garden against a team with five future Hall of Famers. That remains the most points scored in a playoff game.

Back-to-back 50 points

The late 1980s Cleveland Cavaliers were not as dominant as the Los Angeles Lakers , the Boston Celtics, or even the Detroit 'Bad Boys. However, they had a stacked roster with Larry Nance Sr., Brad Daugherty, Ron Harper, and Mark Price—a roster that was up there in the Eastern Conference.

Meanwhile, the Bulls were still on their way to becoming the dynasty we all remember from the '90s. But even in those early years, they had a solid group with up-and-coming stars like Scottie Pippen.

In Game 1 of the 1988 postseason, 25-year-old Jordan put on an absolute show, scoring 50 points on 19-of-35 shooting and hitting all 12 of his free throws. The Cavs were down one of their best defenders, Ron Harper, who was sidelined with an ankle injury, and also claimed that No. 23 wouldn't score 50 if he was around .

Three days later, in Game 2, Jordan recorded 55 points, going 24-for-45 from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 from the line. It was now 50+ in two consecutive postseason games, which no one has ever done before, not even Wilt Chamberlain and his insane scoring feats. MJ achieved that feat with a scoop shot and added five more points on the night, giving the Bulls a 2-0 series lead.

Even with their backs against the wall, the Cavs managed to force a decisive Game 5 after winning the next two games, which showed that they were not an easy team to hit 50 against. But Jordan scored 39 points on 12-of-22 shooting in the fifth game, leading the Bulls to a 107-101 win and sealing the series.

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Setting up the '90s dominance

Jordan averaged 36.3 points per game in that series; unfortunately for the Bulls, their playoff run hit a wall in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they were outmatched by the more experienced Detroit Pistons.

Led by Isiah Thomas and the infamous "Bad Boys" like Bill Laimbeer, the Pistons took the series in five games. But even in defeat, Jordan's brilliance was undeniable; it was only a matter of time before he'd be unstoppable in the league.

That regular season, the Chicago icon led the league in scoring with an average of 35.0 points per game while shooting 53.5% from the field. He earned his first MVP award and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year — thanks to his 1.6 blocks per game and a league-high 3.1 steals per game. He was active at both ends of the court.

The 1997-98 season was one of seven consecutive years when MJ topped the scoring charts. His scoring was one of the biggest reasons the Bulls won six out of 10 championships in the following decade and why Jordan is hailed as the greatest clutch performer in postseason history. He averaged 33.4 points per game in 179 playoff games—4.1 points better than the closest— Kevin Durant —with over 150 playoff games.

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