Joel Embiid made NBA history by scoring a franchise-record 70 points, the highest in the league this season, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 133-123 triumph over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
Embiid also set a personal best with 18 rebounds, going 24 of 41 from the field, including 1 of 2 from beyond the arc, and making 21 of 23 free throws. He surpassed Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain's 76ers record of 68 points, established on Dec. 16, 1967, with a layup at 1:41 remaining in the game.
Chamberlain set the NBA record of 100 points while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors.
A six-time All-Star and the reigning MVP, Embiid has now scored 30 or more points in 21 consecutive games, contributing to the 76ers' six-game winning streak.
In a notable first matchup between the 7-footers, rookie Victor Wembanyama had an impressive 33 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes. Despite his performance, the rebuilding Spurs fell to a 5-19 record on the road.
Embiid expressed that playing against Wembanyama provided extra motivation for him every night, emphasizing his mindset to attack and dominate offensively and defensively.
"Obviously he can score in so many ways, just his sheer size gets him a lot of stuff around the basket, gets him a lot of free throws," commented 76ers coach Nick Nurse. "The shooting touch is the skill part. The way he moves, the skill he has, the size he is, and he gets motivated like that, anything can happen I guess."
Giannis Antetokounmpo previously held the season's high-scoring game in the NBA with 64 points.
The matchup between Embiid and Wembanyama drew attention from the fans, with the Spurs' French phenom showcasing his skills in warmups. Despite the electrifying performances, Embiid's historic achievement took center stage, leaving an indelible mark in NBA history.
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