Who has scored probably the most factors in a single NBA recreation? – ESPN

On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain set the NBA‘s single-game scoring document with 100 factors within the Philadelphia Warriors’ 169-147 win over the New York Knicks. The NBA did not add the 3-point line till 1979, making this efficiency much more exceptional.
Within the six a long time since that historic evening in Hershey, Pennsylvania, no participant has significantly challenged Chamberlain’s milestone. In recent times, Luka Doncic has come the closest, dropping 73 factors in a victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Every week earlier, Joel Embiid broke Chamberlain’s Philadelphia 76ers franchise document by tallying 70 factors in a house win towards the San Antonio Spurs. Final season, Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell scored 71 apiece.
Let us take a look at the most effective particular person scoring efforts in NBA historical past, a lot of which belong to Chamberlain.
100 – Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia vs. New York, March 2, 1962
In the course of the 1961-62 season, Chamberlain was unstoppable, averaging 50.4 factors and 25.7 rebounds per recreation. The Knicks skilled this firsthand, permitting him to attain 100 factors whereas taking pictures 36-of-63 (57.1%) from the sphere and 28-of-32 (87.5%) from the free throw line. At halftime, Chamberlain had 41 factors. The Warriors determined to get Wilt the ball and see what number of factors he may rating. The sport wasn’t televised, and solely 4,124 followers had been in attendance on the Hershey Sports activities Enviornment. All through Chamberlain’s profession, he had six video games with no less than 70 factors and 15 contests with no less than 65 factors.
81 – Kobe Bryant, Lakers vs. Toronto, Jan. 22, 2006
Bryant got here the closest to Chamberlain’s document, erupting for 81 factors within the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 122-104 comeback win over the Toronto Raptors. Bryant shot 28-of-46 (60.9%) from the sphere, 7-of-13 (53.8% from 3-point vary) and 18-of-20 (90%) from the free throw line. Bryant scored nearly all of his factors within the second half. With the Lakers trailing by as many as 18 factors within the third quarter, Bryant took over, dropping 27 factors within the third and 28 within the fourth (scoring all however three of the Lakers’ 31 fourth-quarter factors). That season, Bryant averaged a career-high 35.4 factors per recreation, main the league in scoring.
78 – Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia vs. Lakers, Dec. 8, 1961 (3 OT)
Chamberlain was just about unstoppable, ending with 78 factors and 43 rebounds whereas taking pictures 31-of-62 (50%) from the sphere and 16-of-31 (51.6%) from the free throw line. Chamberlain performed each second of the lean, logging 63 minutes within the triple-overtime thriller. Ultimately, the Warriors misplaced to Los Angeles 151-147. Elgin Baylor and Jerry West had phenomenal performances of their very own to steer L.A. to victory. Baylor completed with 63 factors, 31 rebounds and seven assists, whereas West chipped in 32 factors, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
73 – Luka Doncic, Dallas vs. Atlanta, Jan. 26, 2024
On Jan. 26, 2024, Doncic recorded the highest-scoring recreation since Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance, dropping 73 factors within the Dallas Mavericks‘ 148-143 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Doncic was extraordinarily environment friendly, taking pictures 25-of-33 (75.7%) from the sphere, 8-of-13 (61.5%) from three-point vary and 15-of-16 (93.8%) from the free throw line. Doncic additionally chipped in 10 rebounds, 7 assists and a steal. This 73-point scoring outburst additionally carried additional which means as a result of it occurred on the fourth anniversary of Bryant’s passing.
73 – Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia vs. Chicago, Jan. 13, 1962
Lower than two months earlier than his 100-point efficiency, Chamberlain completed with 73 factors and 36 rebounds within the Warriors’ 135-117 win over the Packers. Chamberlain scored in double figures each quarter however shined brightest within the fourth, when he put up 23 factors. He shot 29-of-48 (60.4%) from the sphere and 15-of-25 (60%) from the foul line.
73 – Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco at New York, Nov. 16, 1962
Chamberlain fueled the Warriors to a 127-111 win over the Knicks with 73 factors and 14 rebounds whereas taking pictures 29-of-43 (67.4%) from the sphere and 15-of-19 (78.9%) from the free throw line. This got here lower than two weeks after his 72-point efficiency towards the Lakers that seems decrease on this record. In late 1961 and 1962, Chamberlain was a dominant drive, registering 5 historic scoring outings — together with his 100-point masterpiece — in lower than a 12 months, every famous right here.
73 – David Thompson, Denver at Detroit, April 9, 1978
Thompson entered this recreation with a particular aim: rating as many factors as potential in hopes of claiming the NBA’s scoring title over George Gervin. After erupting for 32 factors within the first quarter (which continues to be an NBA document), Thompson continued to attain at will. He completed with 73 factors whereas taking pictures 28-of-38 (73.7%) from the sphere and 17-of-20 (85%) from the free throw line. Nonetheless, Thompson’s Denver Nuggets in the end misplaced 139-137 to the Detroit Pistons. Thompson additionally misplaced the scoring title, as Gervin dropped 63 factors later that day to provide the Spurs star a scoring common of 27.22 factors per recreation (versus Thompson’s 27.15 PPG).
72 – Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco at Lakers, Nov. 3, 1962
Much like Chamberlain’s 78-point efficiency towards the Lakers, the Warriors misplaced this recreation versus L.A., 127-115. Chamberlain completed with 72 factors and 18 rebounds on 29-of-48 (60.4%) from the sphere and 14-of-18 (77.8%) from the foul line. For the Lakers, Jerry West recorded 49 factors, 9 rebounds and 5 assists whereas taking pictures 21-of-35 (60%) from the sphere. Elgin Baylor contributed 30 factors, 18 rebounds and 6 assists. Six years later, Chamberlain would be part of the Lakers and staff up with West and Baylor.
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