most points in a game while having under 56 points in a regular season or post season game before 1958

Before 1957-58, George Mikan scored the most points with fewer than 56 points in a regular-season or postseason game, with 53 points versus the Baltimore Bullets on February 26, 1949.

Interpreted as:

most points by a player in a game while having under 56 points in a regular season or post season game before 1958

	NAME	PTS	DATE	TM		OPP	MIN	REB	AST	FGM	FGA	FG%	FTM	FTA	FT%	TS%	PF
1	George Mikan G. Mikan	53	2/26/1949	MIN	@	BAL				17	28	60.7	19	20	95.0	72.0	5
2	George Mikan G. Mikan	51	1/14/1950	MIN	@	ROC				20	36	55.6	11	12	91.7	61.8	5
3	George Mikan G. Mikan	51	3/13/1949	MIN	vs	NYK				22	40	55.0	7	12	58.3	56.3	2
4	Neil Johnston N. Johnston	50	2/16/1954	PHI		SYR		12	6	18	30	60.0	14	16	87.5	67.5	5
5	Bob Cousy B. Cousy	50	3/21/1953	BOS	vs	SYR	66	3	2	10	22	45.5	30	32	93.8	69.3	5
6	Bob Pettit B. Pettit	49	11/13/1956	STL	vs	ROC	43	29		18	34	52.9	13	17	76.5	59.1	5
7	Dike Eddleman D. Eddleman	48	12/17/1950	TRI	@	FTW				19	28	67.9	10	12	83.3	72.1	3
8	George Mikan G. Mikan	48	2/22/1949	MIN	@	NYK				18	37	48.6	12	17	70.6	54.0
9	George Mikan G. Mikan	48	1/30/1949	MIN	vs	WAS				18	29	62.1	12	14	85.7	68.3	6
10	Dolph Schayes D. Schayes	47	3/3/1957	SYR	vs	PHI	42	19	2	18	27	66.7	11	12	91.7	72.8	2
11	George Mikan G. Mikan	47	3/29/1952	MIN	@	ROC				15	26	57.7	17	18	94.4	69.3	4
12	George Mikan G. Mikan	47	11/18/1950	MIN	@	ROC				16	40	40.0	15	16	93.8	50.0	4
13	Joe Fulks J. Fulks	47	12/18/1948	PHI	@	PRO				18	41	43.9	11	14	78.6	49.8	4
14	George Mikan G. Mikan	47	12/4/1948	MIN	@	CHI				16			15	19	78.9		1
15	Carl Braun C. Braun	47	12/6/1947	NYK	@	PRO				18	35	51.4	11
16	Bob Pettit B. Pettit	46	2/24/1956	STL		SYR	43	22	5	17	34	50.0	12	14	85.7	57.3	3
17	Bob Pettit B. Pettit	46	12/27/1955	STL	vs	BOS				17	27	63.0	12	14	85.7	69.4	3
18	Ed Macauley E. Macauley	46	3/6/1953	BOS	vs	MIN	41			18	29	62.1	10	17	58.8	63.0	3
19	George Mikan G. Mikan	46	1/14/1953	MIN	@	BAL		28		16	30	53.3	14	15	93.3	62.8	6
20	George Mikan G. Mikan	46	3/10/1951	MIN	@	TRI				16	31	51.6	14	17	82.4	59.8	3
21	George Mikan G. Mikan	46	3/19/1949	MIN	@	ROC				18	40	45.0	10	13	76.9	50.3
22	Neil Johnston N. Johnston	45	2/4/1955	PHI	vs	ROC		20	1	15	23	65.2	15	22	68.2	68.8	4
23	Bob Pettit B. Pettit	44	2/10/1957	STL	vs	ROC	34	17		15	28	53.6	14	18	77.8	61.2	5
24	Bob Pettit B. Pettit	44	3/9/1956	STL	vs	MIN		19		14			16	18	88.9		3
25	Carl Braun C. Braun	44	2/27/1956	NYK		STL				14	22	63.6	16	16	100.0	75.8	5