<P> In basketball, points are used to keep track of the score in a game . Points can be accumulated by making field goals (worth two points from within the three - point line or three points from beyond the three - point line) or free throws (worth one point). The team that records the most points at the end of a game is declared the game's winner . If the game is still tied at the end of regulation play, additional overtime period (s) are played in order to determine the winner . </P> <P> Teams only averaged around 80 points per game in the years following the founding of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1946 . Before the introduction of the shot clock, teams often ran out the clock by passing the ball more frequently after they established a lead in a game . If one team chose to stall, the other team (especially if behind) would often commit fouls to regain possession . This resulted in very low - scoring games with many fouls, affecting attendance by making fans irritable . Starting in the 1954--55 season, the NBA implemented a 24 - second shot clock . If the offensive team fails to hit the rim with the ball within the allotted time, they would lose possession . This innovation resulted in much higher scoring games . All of the highest - scoring games in the NBA have happened during the shot - clock era . </P> <P> The highest - scoring regular season game is the triple - overtime game between the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets on December 13, 1983 . The two teams combined to score 370 points, with the Pistons defeating the Nuggets 186--184 . An NBA - record four players scored over 40 points in the game, including the Nuggets' Kiki Vandeweghe with a game - high 51 . The two teams also set several other NBA records, including the most points scored by one team (186 points), the most points scored by a losing team (184), the most field goals by two teams (142), most field goals by one team (74) and most assists by two teams (93). </P> <P> The highest - scoring regular season game in regulation was between the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets on November 2, 1990 . In that game, Golden State defeated Denver 162--158 . The Warriors' Chris Mullin scored a game - high 38 points . The Nuggets were coached by Doug Moe from 1980 to 1990 and Paul Westhead from 1990 to 1992, both of whom employed a run and gun offensive strategy, which focuses on attempting a high number of field goals while also conceding a large number of points on defense . In fact, Moe's and Westhead's Nuggets were participants in five of the ten highest - scoring regular season games in NBA history . The Warriors were coached by Don Nelson from 1988 to 1995 and 2006 to 2010 . He employed Nellie Ball, a style of run and gun that uses smaller, more athletic players to outrun opponents . Another notable high scoring regular season game is a March 2, 1962 game between the Philadelphia Warriors and the New York Knicks . In that game, the Warriors' Wilt Chamberlain scored an NBA - record 100 points . </P>

Nba most points by a team in a game