Exactly 18 years after Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in an NBA game, marking the second-best scoring total in league history, Joel Embiid joined the elite group.
The center scored a record-breaking 70 points for himself – and for the club – on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers, becoming only the ninth player in NBA history to do so. He added 18 rebounds and five assists to his tally. No one has ever recorded such numbers in the history of the league.
Embiid, last regular season’s MVP, led the 76ers to victory over the San Antonio Spurs in his first head-to-head matchup with 20-year-old Victor Wembanyama, the future of the league. The hosts were the clear favorites in this clash, but Spurs, despite significant losses to their rival after three quarters, fought bravely until the very end. In a way, they helped increase the result of Embiid, who was on the court almost until the final buzzer to make sure that his team would defeat the Texas team.
NBA. What record did Joel Embiid break?
The Cameroonian thus became the new record holder of the 76ers, beating the 56-year-old record held by the legendary Wilt Chamberlain by two points. – Wilt has achieved everything possible in basketball and in this league, so to be mentioned next to his name is a great thing – said the Sixers’ hero after the game. He was even a little angry with himself and his effectiveness. Throughout the game, he made 24 of 41 field goals and 21 of 23 free throws. He scored 24 points in the first quarter, and after 36 minutes of play he had 59 points.
