Adebayo shot a ridiculous 31-for-38 from the field, including 4-for-5 from deep, and 17-for-19 from the free-throw line. He even added 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Joel Embiid, who finished with 45 points himself, just shook his head at the end. It instantly rewrote the record books, bumping Kobe's 81-point masterpiece down a peg and vaulting Adebayo into second all-time.
Here's how the top individual scoring nights shake out now:
1. **Wilt Chamberlain, 100 points** (March 2, 1962 vs. New York Knicks): The big man’s legendary night in Hershey, Pennsylvania, remains untouched. Chamberlain went 36-for-63 from the field and, perhaps more remarkably for a career 51.1% free-throw shooter, hit 28 of his 32 attempts from the stripe. The Warriors beat the Knicks 169-147, and Wilt played all 48 minutes, scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter alone. He was a force of nature that season, averaging an absurd 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds.
2. **Bam Adebayo, 83 points** (November 12, 2026 vs. Philadelphia 76ers): As mentioned, Adebayo absolutely exploded for the Miami Heat. His 31-for-38 shooting from the field (81.6%) is the most efficient game on this list. He added 17 free throws on 19 attempts, guiding the Heat to a 138-135 OT victory. Adebayo’s previous career high was 41 against the Nets in 2021.
3. **Kobe Bryant, 81 points** (January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors): This was a masterclass in scoring from the Black Mamba. The Lakers were down big to the Raptors in the third quarter before Bryant simply took over. He shot 28-for-46 from the field, including 7-for-13 from three, and converted 18 of 20 free throws. The Lakers won 122-104. What often gets overlooked is that he also grabbed 6 rebounds and 3 steals.
4. **Wilt Chamberlain, 78 points** (December 8, 1961 vs. Los Angeles Lakers): Just a few months before his 100-point game, Wilt put up 78 against Elgin Baylor’s Lakers. In a triple-overtime loss (151-147), Chamberlain shot 31-for-62 from the field and 16-for-31 from the line, adding an incredible 43 rebounds. Baylor himself had 63 in that game, making it one of the greatest head-to-head scoring duels ever.
5. **David Robinson, 71 points** (April 24, 1994 vs. Los Angeles Clippers): On the final day of the 1993-94 season, "The Admiral" went off. He needed a monster game to overtake Shaquille O'Neal for the scoring title, and he got it. Robinson shot 26-for-41 from the field and 18-for-25 from the free-throw line as the Spurs beat the Clippers 112-97. He ended up averaging 29.8 points, just ahead of Shaq's 29.3.
6. **Donovan Mitchell, 71 points** (January 2, 2023 vs. Chicago Bulls): Mitchell’s career night for the Cavaliers came in an improbable overtime victory. He shot 22-for-34 from the field, including 7-for-15 from three, and was nearly perfect from the line, hitting 20 of 25 attempts. He famously grabbed his own missed free throw, threw it off the rim, and tipped it in to force OT. Cleveland won 145-134. He also dished out 11 assists.
7. **Damian Lillard, 71 points** (February 26, 2023 vs. Houston Rockets): Dame Time struck with a vengeance. Lillard lit up the Rockets, going 22-for-38 from the field, including an absurd 13-for-22 from beyond the arc. He also made all 14 of his free throws in the Blazers' 131-114 win. Lillard became the only player in NBA history with multiple games of 10+ threes and 70+ points.
8. **Elgin Baylor, 71 points** (November 15, 1960 vs. New York Knicks): Before Wilt’s scoring explosion, Baylor held the record. Playing for the Lakers, he poured in 71 points on 28-for-48 shooting from the field and 15-for-19 from the free-throw line. The Lakers defeated the Knicks 123-108. He also pulled down 25 rebounds that night.
9. **Devin Booker, 70 points** (March 24, 2017 vs. Boston Celtics): Booker’s eruption against the Celtics was a sight to behold, even in a 130-120 Suns loss. He became the youngest player to score 70. Booker shot 21-for-40 from the field, 4-for-11 from three, and an impressive 24-for-26 from the free-throw line. The Suns were actively trying to get him the record in the fourth quarter.
10. **Wilt Chamberlain, 70 points** (March 10, 1963 vs. Syracuse Nationals): Another day, another Wilt entry. He dropped 70 points in a 163-148 loss, shooting 27-for-38 from the field and 16-for-22 from the line. This marked his fifth career 70-point game, a record no one else has even approached.
11. **Joel Embiid, 70 points** (January 22, 2024 vs. San Antonio Spurs): Embiid dominated Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs on his way to a career high. He shot 24-for-41 from the field, 1-for-2 from three, and 21-for-23 from the charity stripe in a 133-123 Sixers victory. He also grabbed 18 rebounds and added 5 assists. Embiid did this on the same night Karl-Anthony Towns scored 62.
12. **Karl-Anthony Towns, 62 points** (January 22, 2024 vs. Charlotte Hornets): Towns torched the Hornets, hitting 21-for-35 from the field, including a remarkable 10-for-11 from three-point range, and 10-for-14 from the free-throw line. However, the Timberwolves blew a massive lead and lost 128-125, which takes a little shine off the individual effort.
13. **Luka Dončić, 62 points** (December 27, 2022 vs. New York Knicks): Dončić had a historic triple-double with 60 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists. He shot 21-for-31 from the field, 2-for-5 from three, and 16-for-22 from the line. The Mavericks won 126-121 in overtime. That entire line is just ridiculous; nobody else has ever put up a 60-20-10.
14. **Stephen Curry, 62 points** (January 3, 2021 vs. Portland Trail Blazers): Curry showed he could still explode, even without Klay Thompson. He shot 18-for-31 from the field, 8-for-16 from three, and a perfect 18-for-19 from the free-throw line in a 137-122 Warriors win. He scored 21 points in the first quarter alone.
15. **LeBron James, 61 points** (March 3, 2014 vs. Charlotte Bobcats): This was "Masked LeBron" at his peak for the Miami Heat. He shot 22-for-33 from the field, including 8-for-10 from three, and 9-for-11 from the free-throw line in a 124-107 win. This remains his career high.
Real talk: 70-point games were once almost mythical. Now, with the pace, the volume of threes, and the emphasis on offensive freedom, they're becoming, well, less rare. Bam Adebayo hitting 83 is still an outlier, a massive outlier, but the path to 70 is clearer for a handful of guys.
Nikola Jokic, for all his brilliance, isn't a volume scorer in that way; his career high is 50 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo has a 64-point game, but his outside shooting limits his ceiling for truly absurd nights. Anthony Davis, with a career-high 59, could get there if he strung together enough free throws and got hot from mid-range.
The real candidates are the guys who live by the three and can get to the line at will. Here are the top contenders and their career highs:
* **Luka Dončić (career high: 60 points):** Already has a 60-point game, and with his usage rate, passing, and ability to draw fouls, he’s a prime candidate. If he gets super hot from three, 70 is absolutely within reach. We saw his efficiency on the 60-point night.
* **Jayson Tatum (career high: 60 points):** Tatum has the silky smooth game and the volume to go for 70. He's had multiple 50-point games, including a 51-point playoff performance. If he gets to the line 15+ times and hits 8-10 threes, it's possible.
* **Devin Booker (career high: 70 points):** Already on the list. He's proven he can do it. With Kevin Durant drawing attention, Booker could certainly have another such explosion, particularly if KD sits.
* **Stephen Curry (career high: 62 points):** He’s done it once. If he gets that absurd, unconscious rhythm from deep, especially early, he could shatter his own record. He's still got the quick trigger and the limitless range.
* **Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (career high: 59 points):** SGA is a master at getting to the rim and drawing fouls. If his mid-range game is on fire and he gets 20+ free throw attempts, he could easily push past 60. He’s already averaging 30+ points with ridiculous efficiency.
* **Tyrese Maxey (career high: 52 points):** Maxey has shown he can get scorching hot, especially from three. If Embiid is out and he has the green light for 35+ shots, he’s got the burst to pile up points quickly.
My bold prediction? We see at least two more 70-point games in the next two seasons. The league's simply too offense-heavy, and the talent too prodigious, for these records to stand unthreatened. And I wouldn't be surprised if Luka Dončić is one of the guys to do it.
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