On the 18th anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point sport, Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Cities put collectively two of the highest-scoring performances in NBA historical past.
Embiid completed with 70 factors, 18 rebounds and 5 assists in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs — essentially the most factors ever scored in opposition to the franchise. Cities completed with 62 factors and eight rebounds in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets.
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The 2 are the fourth pair of gamers to every rating 60 factors on the identical day and the primary since David Thompson (73) and George Gervin (63) in 1978.
Embiid’s 70 factors set a 76ers single-game scoring file, surpassing the previous mark, which had stood since December 1967, making it the third-oldest standing franchise scoring file.
Embiid turned the primary participant with 70 factors and 15 rebounds in a sport since Wilt Chamberlain in 1963 and third to take action. He’s additionally the primary participant in NBA historical past with 70 factors, 15 rebounds and 5 assists.
In the meantime, Cities turned the seventh participant in NBA historical past with a number of profession 60-point video games. His 62 factors are a Timberwolves single-game scoring file.
Listed below are the important thing numbers behind Embiid’s record-breaking efficiency:
1: Embiid stored it clear throughout his high-scoring sport, recording only one turnover. He handed Carmelo Anthony (62) for essentially the most factors in a sport with one turnover or none since particular person turnovers turned an official statistic in 1977-78.
21: Thirty % of Embiid’s factors got here on the charity stripe, the place he made 21 of 23 free throws.
That is his fourth profession sport with at the very least 20 free throws, breaking a tie with Dolph Schayes for essentially the most in 76ers historical past.
43: There’s been no scarcity of 40-point, 10-rebound video games in Embiid’s profession. He recorded his forty third 40-point, 10-rebound sport Monday, tying Shaquille O’Neal for the sixth most in NBA historical past.
Embiid can also be tied with O’Neal for essentially the most such video games by a participant because the NBA merger in 1976-77.
36:38: Embiid made fast work of his 70-point sport. He performed 36 minutes and 38 seconds, the fewest in a 70-point sport in NBA historical past.
His speedy scoring efforts caught the attention of LeBron James, Pau Gasol and extra because the NBA world praised the prolific heart.
So Karl and Joel determined to get up with violence at present lol. 🔥🔥 going loopy!!
— Austin Rivers (@AustinRivers25) January 23, 2024
70 PIECE NUGGET!!!! @JoelEmbiid 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🫡. CRAZY
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 23, 2024
Congrats on a profession evening @JoelEmbiid!! #70piece 💪🏼🔥🙌🏼👏🏼
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) January 23, 2024
70!!!!!! @JoelEmbiid 👏🏻
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) January 23, 2024
70 factors is loopy.
— Rudy Homosexual (@RudyGay) January 23, 2024
Listed below are some numbers highlighting Cities’ 62-point evening.
10: Cities did a superb chunk of his injury from past the arc, hitting 10 3-pointers. He is the third participant in Timberwolves historical past to hit 10 3-pointers in a sport.
Cities can also be the primary participant in NBA historical past with 10 3-point discipline objectives, 10 2-point discipline objectives and 10 free throws made in a sport.
44: Cities’ scorching begin to the sport aided his career-high efficiency. He scored 44 factors within the first half, passing Bryant for essentially the most factors in a primary half because the 1996-97 season.
Cities scored his 40-plus first-half factors on 80% taking pictures, becoming a member of Brandon Jennings as the one different participant to take action within the play-by-play period (Jennings had 45 factors on 81% taking pictures).
1: Already within the Timberwolves file ebook, Cities additionally cemented his place in NBA historical past. He is the primary No. 1 choose in NBA historical past with a number of 60-point video games and the primary Timberwolves participant to attain 60 in a sport.
ESPN Stats & Info contributed to this story.