In a victory over the Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid scores 70 points.
On Monday at Wells Fargo Center, Joel Embiid overcame Wilt Chamberlain and established a new franchise record for scoring in a single game with 70. This helped the Philadelphia 76ers defeat the San Antonio Spurs, or rookie Victor Wembanyama, 133-123.
The final line of Embiid (70 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 assists) is unprecedented in NBA history, per research from ESPN’s Stats & Information.
Furthermore, it broke Giannis Antetokounmpo’s previous record of 64 points for the Indiana Pacers, establishing a new personal and franchise record for the most points scored by a player in a single game this season.
Embiid surpassed the previous record by completing a legendary outing in which he scored 24 points in the first quarter, 34 points in the first half, and matched his career high of 59 points—which he established against Utah last year—with a coast-to-coast driving a layup late within the fourth quarter. To cap it off, he executed a stepback 3-pointer to end the third quarter.
The only remaining question was whether Embiid would make a return in the fourth quarter or spend his final 12 minutes on the bench, as he has done on multiple occasions this season in decisive victories.
San Antonio, on the other hand, maintained its lead, fueled by Wembanyama’s outstanding 33 points and 7 rebounds; this resulted in an overwhelmingly positive reception when Eminid returned to the court with 6:38 remaining in the game.
Jeremy Sochan fouled Embiid in his initial offensive possession during the quarter, resulting in Embiid establishing a new career high with both free throws.
The crowd was so eager for the reigning NBA MVP to make history that they booed their player, Danuel House Jr., midway through the quarter when he attempted a corner 3-pointer.
With 1:57 remaining, Embiid equaled Chamberlain’s previous franchise mark of 68 points with two free throws before his coast-to-coast layup shattered the record. He played for a total of 36 minutes, or 38 seconds.
Additionally, Embiid established a new personal best with 18 rebounds. Twenty-one of forty-one from the field, one of two from the three-point line, and twenty-one of twenty-three from free throws.
With 1:41 remaining, he surpassed the 76ers record of 68 points, which was established in December 1967 and was held by Hall of Honor Wilt Chamberlain via a layup.
In 1962, while playing alongside the Philadelphia Warriors, Chamberlain established an NBA record with 100 points. Embiid, the reigning league MVP and a six-time All-Star, has accumulated a minimum of 30 points in twenty-one consecutive contests. The 76ers have a six-game winning streak.
In 29 minutes, rookie Victor Wembanyama recorded 33 points along with seven rebounds in the opening contest between the 7-footers.
The rebuilding Spurs finished their road campaign 5–19. Every night, playing against Wembanyama, according to Embiid, encouraged him to accomplish his mission.
“While I would not lie to you, that is my mentality throughout every game,” Embiid stated on the local television broadcast that followed.
“Tonight was no different from my mentality, which is to dominate offensively along with defensively and to attack.”
After reaching a career-high 59 points in the first three quarters, Embiid re-entered the game with 6:38 remaining and Philadelphia leading 118-104. As the record approached, the 76ers made every effort to pass the ball to him.
“He can score in a variety of ways; his sheer size grants him an abundance of free throws and assists him in doing so around the basket,” said 76ers head coach Nick Nurse.
“The skill component is the shooting touch.” “I suppose anything is possible, given his physique, manner of movement, ability, and motivation.”
However, it was immediately apparent that nothing would work. Embiid scored 24 points in the first quarter on 8-for-12 shooting.
While the Spurs’ French phenom was in warmups, spectators lined up on the court to keep an eye on Embiid or Wembanyama even before their initial tip.
Although the home crowd is already cognizant of Embiid’s capabilities, the star of Philadelphia’s offense may have wished to remind them.
Embiid overtook Wembanyama with a 13-footer 1:11 into the match. The Spurs youngster responded with two 3-pointers separated by 27 seconds, followed by an alley-oop dunk, before being forced to the sidelines with 6:27 remaining in the first period due to two fouls.
Gregg Popovich, the head coach of the Spurs, made a pre-game remark that the team intended to “hammer his butt.” “I instructed Wemby to simply throw him by way of the rim while backing him down to the rim.”