Dwight Howard

Cross-checked NBA and Magic playoff histories, official box scores and Finals archives, Hornets retrospectives, franchise record books, and the performances most representative of Howard's defensive and physical peak. Orlando's 2009 Finals breakthrough anchors three selections, while his playoff scoring high and late-career 30–30 revival preserve the individual extremes of a career whose value cannot be reduced to points alone.

1. #1. Howard overwhelmed Cleveland with 40 points on 14-of-21 shooting, 14 rebounds, and four assists in the 2009 East finals clincher, sending Orlando past the 66-win Cavaliers and into its second NBA Finals. NBA: 2009 East finals Game 6 · NBA official Cavaliers–Magic Game 6 box score
2. #2. Howard set an NBA Finals record with nine blocks and collected 21 rebounds in the overtime Game 4 that Orlando led late, the clearest championship-stage expression of the three-time Defensive Player of the Year's rim protection. NBA: The most blocks by a player in a game · NBA 2009 Finals archive
3. #3. Howard produced 24 points and a Magic-playoff-record 24 rebounds—11 on the offensive glass—in a 91–78 Game 5 win that gave Orlando control of its opening-round series with Philadelphia. Magic: Classic 2009 first-round Game 5 · NBA: Most rebounds in a playoff game
4. #4. Howard set his playoff scoring high with 46 points on 16-of-23 shooting and grabbed 19 rebounds against Atlanta, accounting for nearly half of Orlando's points while every other Magic starter struggled. Magic: Fifteen best playoff performances · NBA official Hawks–Magic Game 1 box score
5. #5. At age 32, Howard scored 32 points and set career and Hornets franchise highs with 30 rebounds, including 28 points and 20 boards after halftime, to complete a 23-point comeback in Brooklyn. NBA: Howard turns back the clock with 30–30 · Hornets: Howard's 2017–18 season recap

Reviewed through 2026-07-18