Has an NBA game ever ended 53-46?

Exactly once. On December 26, 1946, Philadelphia Warriors beat Pittsburgh Ironmen 53-46, and no NBA game before or since has ended that way. When it happened it was a scorigami, the first 53-46 in league history.

Where 53-46 sits among nearby NBA scores. Deeper blue means a score has happened more often; the outlined cell is the new one.

That makes 53-46 the 2546th most common final score out of 3,190 that have ever occurred in NBA. One point away, 54-46 has happened 1 times and 53-47 has happened never.

Every 53-46 in NBA history

Date	Result	Season
1946-12-26	Philadelphia Warriors over Pittsburgh Ironmen	1946

Open the NBA grid at 53-46