Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers broke the previous team record for most points scored in a single game. Kevin Durant later expressed what everyone else had been thinking.
In the 2023–2024 regular season, the reigning NBA MVP is averaging an incredible 36.1 points per game. Embiid almost doubled that amount against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
Strangely enough, this historic effort occurred precisely 18 years after Kobe Bryant’s well-known 81-point explosion against the Toronto Raptors. His 70 points rank No. 1 all-time for the Sixers.
Kevin Durant cannot believe what Joel Embiid did
Philadelphia emerged victorious in the contest, propelling the team to 29-13 for the year. While his teammates showed immense love following the game, Kevin Durant won the award for best reaction.
He had seventy, indeed, Kevin! Ironically, Durant has never scored 60 points or more in an NBA contest. That demonstrates how unique Embiid’s night was.
Many other NBA players, including Pau Gasol, Kendrick Perkins, and the league’s greatest player, LeBron James, also voiced their opinions.
For Embiid, Monday was a “pinch me” moment. He recorded the league’s first-ever 70-point, 15-rebound, five-assist stat total.
The 29-year-old was shocked to hear from the commentators following the game that Wilt Chamberlain had never achieved this.
Karl Anthony-Towns would have been the talk of the NBA any other night. In a defeat to the Charlotte Hornets, KAT scored a career-high 62 points.
He should be commended for his efforts, but Embiid unintentionally took center stage. In any case, NBA fans were treated to two never-before-seen performances in one evening.
What’s next for the Sixers and Embiid? a Thursday night trip to Indianapolis to play the Pacers, a squad that has lost four of its previous five games. What is Joel planning to do for his encore?
