April 20, 1986: Bulls' Michael Jordan scores NBA playoff-record 63 points vs. Celtics

One of the most memorable playoff games in Chicago Bulls history – a franchise that won six NBA titles – was one they lost. That was on April 20, 1986, 20 years ago today, at the old Boston Garden when Michael Jordan truly became a basketball "God."

Jordan's Bulls were not very good that 1985-86 season, finishing with just a 30-52 record largely because Jordan was limited to 18 games because of a broken foot. In fact, Bulls' brass didn't want MJ to return late this season for fear he would suffer a career-ending injury on that foot, but Jordan would hear nothing of that. Return he did from the only major injury of his career.

Despite finishing 22 games under .500, the Bulls earned the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference -- the first 50-plus loss team in the playoffs since the 1967-68 Bulls -- and a date with the top-seeded and loaded Boston Celtics (five future Hall of Famers) in the first round. The Bulls lost Game 1 as expected, 123-104 at Boston Garden on April 17.

Three days later, on April 20, Jordan was unstoppable in scoring an NBA playoff-record 63 points. He was 22-for-41 shooting (he didn't attempt a three-pointer, and that wasn't unique back then) and 19-for-21 from the charity stripe in 53 minutes of game action. Alas, the Bulls lost 135-131 in double overtime. Jordan did have a chance to win at the end of the first OT with a left elbow jumper, but he missed.

Celtics star Larry Bird, a legend in his own right, said afterward that of MJ: "He is the most exciting, awesome player in the game. I think it's just God disguised as Michael Jordan."

The previous NBA single-game playoff scoring record was 61 points by the Lakers' Elgin Baylor in Game 5 of the 1962 Finals, also in Boston Garden. L.A. won that game, and it remains the Finals single-game mark.