Has an NBA game ever ended 49-40?

Exactly once. On November 30, 1946, Washington Capitols beat Pittsburgh Ironmen 49-40, and no NBA game before or since has ended that way. When it happened it was a scorigami, the first 49-40 in league history.

Where 49-40 sits among nearby NBA scores. Deeper blue means a score has happened more often; the outlined cell is the new one.

That makes 49-40 the 2546th most common final score out of 3,190 that have ever occurred in NBA. One point away, 50-40 has happened never and 49-41 has happened never.

Every 49-40 in NBA history

Date	Result	Season
1946-11-30	Washington Capitols over Pittsburgh Ironmen	1946

Open the NBA grid at 49-40