Before 1988-89, Kevin Porter had the most assists in a game, with 29 assists versus the Rockets on February 24, 1978.

Interpreted as:

most assists by a player in a regular-season game before 1989

	NAME	AST	DATE	TM		OPP	MIN	PTS	REB	STL	BLK	FGM	FGA	FG%	3PM	3PA	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	TS%	OREB	DREB	TOV	PF
1	Kevin Porter K. Porter	29	2/24/1978	NJN	vs	HOU	48	14	5	2	0	7	17	41.2				0	0		41.2				2
2	Guy Rodgers G. Rodgers	28	3/14/1963	SFW	vs	STL	48	14	5			6	11	54.5				2	2	100.0	58.9				4
3	Bob Cousy B. Cousy	28	2/27/1959	BOS	vs	MIN	45	31	5			10	18	55.6				11	12	91.7	66.6				3
4	Geoff Huston G. Huston	27	1/27/1982	CLE	vs	GSW	46	24	1	0	0	10	17	58.8	0	0		4	6	66.7	61.1	0	1	4	2
5	John Stockton J. Stockton	26	4/14/1988	UTA	vs	POR	45	17	3	2	0	6	9	66.7	0	2	0.0	5	5	100.0	75.9	1	2	2	3
6	Nate McMillan N. McMillan	25	2/23/1987	SEA	vs	LAC	41	8	8	1	4	3	5	60.0	0	1	0.0	2	2	100.0	68.0	0	8	3	2
7	Isiah Thomas I. Thomas	25	2/13/1985	DET	vs	DAL	41	23	5	2	0	10	18	55.6	0	1	0.0	3	5	60.0	56.9	0	5	5	4
8	Kevin Porter K. Porter	25	4/1/1979	DET	@	PHX	46	13	3	2	0	6	20	30.0				1	2	50.0	31.1	1	2	4	3
9	Kevin Porter K. Porter	25	3/9/1979	DET	vs	BOS	37	30	3	0	0	12	18	66.7				6	8	75.0	69.7	1	2	4	1
10	Ernie DiGregorio E. DiGregorio	25	1/1/1974	BUF	@	POR	48	20	9	2	0	9	22	40.9				2	2	100.0	43.7	3	6		4
11	Isiah Thomas I. Thomas	24	2/7/1985	DET	@	WAS	50	25	10	2	1	9	27	33.3	1	3	33.3	6	9	66.7	40.4	4	6	2	1
12	John Lucas J. Lucas	24	4/15/1984	SAS	vs	DEN	28	0	0	2	0	0	1	0.0	0	0		0	0		0.0	0	0	2	4
13	Kevin Porter K. Porter	24	3/23/1980	WAS	vs	DET	44	12	1			5	15	33.3	0			2	4	50.0	35.8				1
14	Guy Rodgers G. Rodgers	24	12/21/1966	CHI	vs	NYK	46	18	2			6	16	37.5				6	8	75.0	46.1				1
15	Magic Johnson M. Johnson	23	4/20/1988	LAL	@	DAL	42	8	10	0	1	1	7	14.3	0	0		6	8	75.0	38.0	2	8	8	2
16	Magic Johnson M. Johnson	23	2/21/1984	LAL	vs	SEA	36	9	5	2	0	4	10	40.0	0	2	0.0	1	3	33.3	39.8	0	5	3	3
17	Nate Archibald N. Archibald	23	2/5/1982	BOS	vs	DEN	38	15	4	0	0	7	15	46.7	0	0		1	3	33.3	46.0	0	4	1	3
18	Kevin Porter K. Porter	23	3/30/1979	DET	@	LAL	43	15	3	1	0	6	22	27.3				3	4	75.0	31.6	1	2	3	5
19	Kevin Porter K. Porter	23	12/27/1978	DET	vs	HOU	41	20	3	1	0	9	14	64.3				2	4	50.0	63.5				3
20	Jerry West J. West	23	2/1/1967	LAL	vs	PHI		24	6			9	18	50.0				6	9	66.7	54.6				3
21	John Stockton J. Stockton	22	1/8/1987	UTA	vs	LAL	43	11	5	1	0	5	10	50.0	0	1	0.0	1	3	33.3	48.6	2	3	2	2
22	Ennis Whatley E. Whatley	22	3/3/1984	CHI	vs	ATL	37	10	2	2	0	4	6	66.7	0	0		2	2	100.0	72.7	0	2	4	4
23	Ennis Whatley E. Whatley	22	1/14/1984	CHI	vs	NYK	41	8	5	4	0	3	10	30.0	0	0		2	2	100.0	36.8	3	2	3	1
24	Magic Johnson M. Johnson	22	11/17/1983	LAL	vs	CLE	37	23	9	3	1	8	13	61.5	0	1	0.0	7	10	70.0	66.1	1	8	2	1
25	Allen Leavell A. Leavell	22	1/25/1983	HOU	vs	NJN	41	24	7	1	0	9	15	60.0	0	3	0.0	6	7	85.7	66.4	2	5	5	3