Record-breaking Performance: Most Rebounds in a Single Playoff Game

The highest number of rebounds in a single NBA Playoff game is 26, achieved by three players. The record was first set by Olajuwon in 1988 during the Western Conference Finals against the Mavericks. This record stood for almost 30 years until Dwight Howard matched it. It is worth noting that both Olajuwon and Howard were playing for the Rockets when they set the record, both against the Mavericks. Biyombo became the third member to accomplish this feat a year later against the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

26 Rebounds: Bismack Biyombo (2016), Dwight Howard (2015), Hakeem Olajuwon (1988)

25 Rebounds: Jonas Valanciunas (2022), Tim Duncan (2002), Hakeem Olajuwon (1987)

Olajuwon is unsurprisingly a staple on this list as one of the best rebounders in history. He set the record at the time with 25 boards against the SuperSonics in the Western Conference Semis and that record stood until he broke it again a year later. Tim Duncan grabbed 25 boards against the Lakers in the Western Conference Semis but the Spurs had to wait another year until they got to the mountaintop.  Jonas Valanciunas, then with the Pelicans, joined the 25-rebound club against the Suns in the first game of the 2022 NBA playoffs.

24 Rebounds: Dwight Howard (2009), Ben Wallace (2003, 2004), Tim Duncan (2003), Shaquille O’Neal (2000), Charles Oakley (1994), Charles Barkley (1993), Ralph Sampson (1985)

Several players have reached the 24-rebound mark in playoff games, and they are some of the best rebounders the game has seen. Ralph Sampson set the bar in 1985 as a member of the Rockets only to be bested by teammate Hakeem Olajuwon two years later.

The Round Mound of Rebound himself, Charles Barkley, joined the 24-rebound club in 1993 and Charles Oakley did so as well the following postseason.

In the 2000s, Shaq got it started with a dominant effort on the boards against the Pacers in Game 2 of the 2000 NBA Finals. Tim Duncan then followed suit in 2003 during the Spurs’ title run.  Ben Wallace got to 24 rebounds in a game in back-to-back playoffs during the Pistons’ impressive run in that era that culminated in an NBA Championship in 2004. 

23 Rebounds: Anthony Davis (2024, 2023), Kevon Looney (2023), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019), Tim Duncan (2008, 2003), Shaquille O’Neal (2003), Charles Barkley (1999, 1995), Larry Smith (1987)

Golden State’s Larry Smith was the first to record a 23-rebound postseason game back in 1987. Since then, six other players have recorded that exact number of boards during a postseason game. Most recently, active players like Anthony Davis, Kevon Looney and Giannis Antetokounmpo have reached that milestone. Davis has done so in back-to-back postseasons and still has an active streak going into this year.