Joel Embiid 70-point game: Former Kansas star breaks Sixers scoring record in win over Spurs

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY NETWORK

Former Kansas basketball star and current Philadelphia 76ers forward Joel Embiid made NBA history on Monday night.

Eighteeen years to the day after Kobe Bryant's 81-point game, Embiid scored 70 points — becoming only the ninth NBA player ever to do so — in the Sixers' 133-123 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The 2023 NBA MVP shot 24 of 41 on the night while making 21 of 23 free-throw attempts along with 18 rebounds.

En route to his career-high scoring effort, Embiid also broke the 76ers record for most points in a single game, which was previously held by Wilt Chamberlain. He holds the NBA record for single-game points (100) but did so with the Philadelphia Warriors.

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The 7-foot former No. 3 overall pick is aiming to win MVP honors in back-to-back seasons, and he's off to a strong start in 2023-24. Entering Monday's game, Embiid was averaging an NBA-leading 35 points per game with 11.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists this season.

How many points did Joel Embiid have tonight?

Embiid scored 70 points in the Sixers' 133-123 win over San Antonio on Monday night, shooting 24 of 41 from the field and 21 of 23 from the free-throw line.

What is the most points scored in an NBA game?

The NBA's all-time record for points in a single game was set by Chamberlain with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1962, when he scored 100 points on 36-of-63 shooting. He also shot 28 of 32 from the free throw line.

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NBA all-time scoring list

Here's the NBA's list of players to score 70 or more points ever in a single game:

  • 1. Wilt Chamberlain (100)

  • 2. Kobe Bryant (81)

  • 3. Wilt Chamberlain (78)

  • T-4. David Thompson (73)

  • T-4. Wilt Chamberlain (73)

  • T-4 Wilt Chamberlain (73)

  • 7. Wilt Chamberlain (72)

  • T-8. Damian Lillard (71)

  • T-8 Donovan Mitchell (71)

  • T-8 David Robinson (71)

  • T-8 Elgin Baylor (71)

  • T-12. Devin Booker (70)

  • T-12 Wilt Chamberlain (70)

  • T-12 Joel Embiid (70)

Joel Embiid stats

  • vs. Spurs: 24 of 41 shooting (58.5) with 70 points, 18 rebounds and five assists

  • Season average: 35 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists per game

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Joel Embiid's 70 points breaks Sixers scoring record in win over Spurs

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