NBA players are scoring at a rapid rate this season and it’s resulting in a lot of high-scoring games and a flurry of record-breaking performances. For example, there are currently seven players averaging more than 30 points per game and two others are extremely close at 29.7 points per game – as of February 4.
What’s even more impressive is the number of 40-point performances we’ve seen this season. – as of Feb. 4, there have been 122 instances where a player has put up at least 40 points. For reference, that’s already three more than we saw all of last season and we still have roughly 30 games left to play in 2023.
Not only that, but there have been another 84 instances where a player came within one basket (three points) of a 40-point game. At this rate, there’s a very good chance we see 200 40-point performances by the end of the year – not including the playoffs – as NBA players continue to show out on a nightly basis.
You’ll Never Guess What These 5 NBA Players Did on the Same Night!
On December 23rd, just two days before Christmas, fans were gifted a record-breaking night as five NBA players scored at least 43 points on the same day. It’s the first time in league history that five players have scored that much on the same day. To make it even sweeter, all five of those games were nail-biters.
The five players we’re talking about are Luka Doncic (50 points), R.J. Barrett (44 points), Joel Embiid (44 points), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (44 points), and Tyrese Haliburton (43 points). There were also seven other NBA players who scored at least 30 points on that night – two of which were on the same team.
It was certainly a night to remember for anyone who followed along – I know I was and I had my jaw dropped the entire time. And while three of those five NBA players with at least 43 points won their matchup, two of them walked away with a disappointing loss – one of which was lost in overtime.
For those that were busy on this particular day, don’t panic – we’re going to break down all five of those performances below. Let’s get started!
5. Tyrese Haliburton – 43 points
On December 23, Tyrese Haliburton – a point guard for the Indiana Pacers – scored a career-high 43 points against the Miami Heat. It was an extremely efficient performance that saw him shoot 14 of 20 from the floor, 10 of 16 from the three-point line, and a perfect 5 of 5 from the charity stripe. He was electric.
Haliburton didn’t waste any time getting into a groove with 14 points in the first quarter (4 of 5 from long range). He scored just 3 points in the second quarter, but bounced right back with 13 points in the third quarter (3 of 4 from long range) and another 13 points in the fourth quarter (2 of 3 from long range).
He filled out the rest of his stat sheet with 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block – doing it all for the Pacers. And it paid off with his Pacers walking away victorious, thanks to a three-point jumper from 28 feet away with 4.0 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter – giving the Pacers a late three-point lead.
The performance comes during a breakout season for Haliburton, who has established himself as one of the most versatile and creative point guards in the league. He showed flashes of it in his first two seasons – he was drafted by the Kings with the 12th overall pick in 2020 – but is putting it on full display this year.
Through 42 games this season, Haliburton is averaging 20.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 33.5 minutes per game. He’s shooting 48% from the field, 39% from beyond the three-point line, and 88% from the charity stripe. What’s scary is he’ll only get better from here on out.
As recognition for his stellar play this season, Haliburton will be making his first All-Star appearance as an All-Star Game Reserve – and rightfully so. He’s the league-leader in assists per game, ranks 44th in the NBA in points per game, and ranks 19th in efficiency rating at 25.5 – the leader is Nikola Jokic at 38.1.
4. Joel Embiid – 44 points
On December 23, Joel Embiid – a center for the Philadelphia 76ers – scored 44 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. It was his ninth 40-point game and fifth-highest scoring game of the 2022-23 season. He shot 18 of 30 from the field, 1 of 4 from beyond the three-point line, and 7 of 7 from the charity stripe.
Embiid was put to work right away with 15 points in the first quarter (7 of 9 from field) and scored 8 points in the second quarter (3 of 6 from field) to go into halftime with 23 points. He closed the second half out with 11 points in the third quarter (4 of 9 from field) and 10 points in the fourth quarter (4 of 6 from field).
With that said, scoring wasn’t the only thing on Embiid’s plate – filling out the rest of his stat sheet with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, and just 1 turnover. His 76ers won the game 119-114 thanks to his 10 points in the final 6 minutes of play – including two clutch free throws with 11 seconds left in the game.
Joel Embiid is putting together another MVP-caliber season – though he’ll likely be beat out by Nikola Jokic, yet again. He’s averaging 33.5 points (league-high), 10.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks in 34.6 minutes per game (39 games played). He’s shooting a career-high 53% from the field.
In addition to leading the league in points per game, Embiid also ranks 12th in the NBA in rebounds per game, 6th in the NBA in blocks per game, and 2nd in the NBA in efficiency rating – he’s at 35.3, which is 2.8 behind the leader (Jokic). He also has his 76ers in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference at 34-17.
Some of Embiid’s other incredible performances this season include 40 points on Oct. 28, 41 points on Jan. 17, 42 points on Nov. 12, 42 points on Jan. 2, 47 points on Jan. 28, 48 points on Dec. 27 (four days after the performance outlined above), 53 points on Dec. 11, and 59 points on Nov. 13. He’s fun to watch.
3. R.J. Barrett – 44 points
On December 23, R.J. Barrett – a small forward for the New York Knicks – scored 44 points against the Chicago Bulls (he was just 3 points away from setting a new career-high). He shot an efficient 14 of 20 from the field, a perfect 6 of 6 from beyond the three-point line, and 10 of 13 from the charity stripe.
Barrett started the game out with a modest 7 points off 3 of 4 shooting in the first quarter, but put on an absolute show in the second quarter – totaling 19 points off 6 of 9 shooting from the field (3 of 3 from long range). He scored another 8 points in the third quarter and finished with 10 points in the fourth quarter.
He filled out the rest of his stat sheet with 7 rebounds and 4 assists in just over 39 minutes of play, but failed to record a steal or a block – he also had 6 turnovers and 5 fouls, but he more than made up for it. Unfortunately, his efforts didn’t lead to a win, losing 117-118 due to a last-second push by the Bulls.
Barrett is currently in his fourth season in the league after being drafted by the Knicks with the No. 3 overall pick in 2019. His 44 points is currently tied for the most in a single game by a Knicks’ player this year – point guard Jalen Brunson scored 44 points on Jan. 9, but he took 10 more shots than Barrett.
Through 48 games this season, Barrett is averaging 20.2 points (career-high), 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.2 blocks in 34.9 minutes (career-high) per game. He’s shooting 43% from the field, 33% from beyond the three-point line, and 75% from the charity stripe. His future is bright at just 22 years old.
As of February 4, Barrett ranks No. 43 in the league in points per game – Nuggets’ guard Jamal Murray is also averaging 20.2 points per game. In addition to his 44-point performance, Barrett has scored at least 30 points in five other games – three of which coming in the past month. He has been on fire.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 44 points
On December 23, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – a shooting guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder – scored a career-high 44 points against the New Orleans Pelicans. He shot 17 of 29 (59%) from the field, 3 of 4 (75%) from the three-point line, and 7 of 9 (78%) from the charity stripe – carrying his team, as usual.
He played every second of the first quarter and came away with 10 points on 5 of 7 shooting. He stayed efficient with 8 points off 4 of 6 shooting in the second quarter and exploded for 14 points (5 of 7 shooting) in the third quarter. He finished the fourth quarter with 5 points, but put up another 7 points in overtime.
Gilgeous-Alexander also had 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in the game – doing a little bit of everything for the Thunder. He led a second-half comeback after being down 64-46 at halftime and had a 6-point lead with just over a minute left in the game, but the Pelicans took over late in the 4th and in OT.
He is now in his fifth season in the NBA and fourth season with the Thunder after being drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 11 overall pick in 2018. He’s one of seven players averaging at least 30 points per game this season, but has played the second-most games this season out of that bunch.
Through 48 games in 2022-23, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.0 points (career-high), 4.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.7 steals (career-high), and 1.1 blocks (career-high). He ranks No. 4 in the league in points per game, No. 6 in the league in steals per game, and No. 8 in the league in efficiency rating (30.4).
There have been 31 instances this season where a Thunder player has scored at least 30 points – all of which have come from Gilgeous-Alexander. Here’s another fun fact – Gilgeous-Alexander and R.J. Barrett (from above) became the first two Canadians to score at least 40 points on the same night.
1. Luka Doncic – 50 points
On December 23, Luka Doncic – a point guard for the Dallas Mavericks – led all NBA players with 50 points against the Houston Rockets and it wasn’t even his best performance of the season. He shot 17 of 30 (57%) from the field, 6 of 12 from beyond the arc (50%), and 10 of 12 (83%) from the charity stripe.
Doncic didn’t waste any time finding his shot, scoring 14 points in the first quarter while playing every second, but only had 4 points in 6 minutes in the second quarter. Then the second half began. He scored 15 points in the third thanks to 8 made free throws and 17 points in the fourth with 3 three-pointers.
Not only that, but Doncic came just 2 rebounds away from a triple-double. He rounded out his stat sheet with 8 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals – though he also had 7 turnovers and 3 personal fouls. He did it all, as usual, and helped his team secure a 112-106 win with a three-pointer in the final 20 seconds.
Doncic is currently playing in his fifth season in the NBA after being drafted by the Atlanta Hawks (rights traded to Mavericks) with the No. 3 overall pick in 2018. As of Feb. 4, he ranks 2nd in points per game, 22nd in rebounds per game, 5th in assists per game, 13th in steals per game, and 3rd in efficiency rating.
Through 47 games played in 2022-23, he is averaging 33.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 36.5 minutes per game. He’s shooting a respectable 50% from the field, 35% from beyond the arc, and 73% from the free throw line – not bad, considering he has the ball at all times.
There aren’t many players in the league who can score as much and as consistently as Doncic does. He has scored at least 41 points in 11 different games, including four games of at least 50 points and a 60-point outing on December 27th – just four days after the game outlined above. He’s must-see TV.
Other Instances Where 5 NBA Players Scored at Least 40 Points on the Same Night
The NBA players above made history by becoming the first five players to score at least 43 points on the same day, but we’ve seen similar days like that before. In fact, there have been four other instances where five players scored at least 40 points in the same night. Here’s a quick look at those instances:
- April 10, 2022 – Obi Toppin (42 points), Jalen Green (41 points), Malik Monk (41 points), Klay Thompson (41 points), and Victor Oladipo (40 points)
- February 21, 2003 – Tracy McGrady (52 points), Jamal Mashburn (50 points), Michael Jordan (43 points), Allen Iverson (41 points), and Kobe Bryant (40 points)
- February 2, 2001 – Allen Iverson (47 points), Kobe Bryant (44 points), Chris Webber (41 points), Paul Pierce (40 points), and Jerry Stackhouse (40 points)
- December 25, 1961 – Wilt Chamberlain (59 points), Tom Heinsohn (45 points), Elgin Baylor (40 points), Richie Guerin (40 points), and Oscar Robertson (40 points)
Scoring 40 or more points isn’t easy in the NBA, but it’s becoming much more common in the league today. There have been more than 4,500 40-point performances throughout the history of the NBA and that number will continue to increase in the years ahead – unless defenses can find a way to stop it.
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Unfortunately, I don’t see defenses standing a chance. Not only have we seen 122 40-point performances so far this season, but we’ve also seen 20 50-point games and three 60-point games – one of which was Donovan Mitchell going off for 71 points, the most in a single NBA game since Kobe Bryant’s 81 in 2006.
Can You Name the 21 NBA Players Who Have Scored 50+ Points in a Single Game Since 2021-22?
NBA players are scoring at a rapid pace this season as 50-point games become more and more common in the league today. With roughly 20 games remaining in the 2022-23 regular season, the NBA has already seen players score at least 50 points in 21 games – on pace for around 30 such occurrences.
That’s a stark difference from 10 years ago – when just 3 NBA players scored at least 50 points in a single game during the 2012-13 season. Over the next three seasons, the league only saw 25 such performances and a combined 27 between the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons – signs of improvement.
The 2018-19 season is when things really started to change. For the first time in a while, the league saw 22 50-point performances in a single season and another 23 the following season – despite the 2019-20 season being shortened. Another shortened season in 2022-21 saw just 14 50-point performances.
Which NBA Players Have Scored 50+ Points in a Game Since 2021-22?
That brings us to the past two seasons, which has seen yet another surge of 50-point performances. Last season, NBA players scored at least 50 points on 19 occasions – an uptick of 5 from the season prior. And now, three quarters into the 2022-23 season, fans have already seen it happen another 21 times.
That means NBA players have scored 50+ points in a single game 40 times over the past two seasons – and counting – from a total of 21 different NBA players. Of those 20 players, nine of them have done it more than once and six of them have done it at least three times. It makes for some exciting basketball.
And NBA players aren’t stopping at 50 points. The 2021-22 season saw two players score 60 points in a game and we’ve already seen that happen four times this season – two of which surpassed the 70-point mark. With that said, let’s meet the 21 NBA players who have scored at least 50 points since 2021-22.
(The number of 50-point games each player has had over the past two seasons is in parenthesis)
21. Jaylen Brown (1)
Boston Celtics’ forward Jaylen Brown scored 50 points against the Orlando Magic on January 2, 2022 during the 2021-22 regular season. He shot 19 of 29 from the field, 5 of 10 from the three-point line, and 7 of 8 from the charity stripe – adding 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks in the 116-111 OT win.
Breaking it down by the quarter, Brown scored 7 points in the first and 10 points in the second – entering halftime with 17 points. Another 9 points in the third brought his total to 26 points, but then he exploded for 21 points (9 of 12 from the field) in the fourth quarter. In overtime, he added 3 points to finish with 50.
20. DeMar DeRozan (1)
Chicago Bulls’ guard DeMar DeRozan scored 50 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 31, 2022 during the 2021-22 regular season. He shot 17 of 26 from the field, 2 of 2 from long range, and 14 of 15 from the charity stripe – adding 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal in the 135-130 overtime victory.
Believe it or not, DeRozan only had four points in the first quarter – two of his teammates had more. He turned it up a little bit in the second quarter with 10 points and went into halftime with 14. He added nine points in the third quarter, but an impressive 17 points in the fourth before adding 10 in the overtime.
19. Saddiq Bey (1)
Detroit Pistons’ forward Saddiq Bey scored 51 points against the Orlando Magic on March 17, 2022 during the 2021-22 regular season. He shot 17 of 27 from the floor, 10 of 14 from the three-point line, and 7 of 10 from the free throw line – adding 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in the 134-120 victory.
Bey wasn’t messing around in the first quarter and absolutely went off for 21 points (4 of 7 from long range) in the first 12 minutes of play. He went into halftime with 30 points after scoring nine points in the second quarter. He scored six points in the third, but finished strong with another 15 points in the fourth.
18. Ja Morant (1)
Memphis Grizzlies’ point guard Ja Morant scored 52 points against the San Antonio Spurs on February 28, 2022 during the 2021-22 regular season. He shot 22 of 30 from the floor, 4 of 4 from long range, and 4 of 7 from the free throw line – adding 7 rebounds and 2 assists in just over 34 minutes of game action.
Morant opened the game with 14 points in the first quarter and went into halftime with 29 points after scoring another 15 points in the second quarter. He opened the second half with 10 points in the third quarter and finished the game with 13 points in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies went on to win 118-105.
17. Trae Young (1)
Atlanta Hawks’ point guard Trae Young scored 56 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 3, 2022 during the 2021-22 regular season. He shot 17 of 26 from the floor, 7 of 12 from long range, and a perfect 15 of 15 from the charity stripe – adding 4 rebounds and 14 assists in just over 37 minutes of play.
Young opened the game with 16 points in the first quarter, but was only 1 of 3 from long range. He added another 13 points in the second to enter halftime with 29 points. The third quarter saw him score 12 points before ending the game strong with 15 points in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Hawks lost 136-131.
16. Karl-Anthony Towns (1)
Minnesota Timberwolves’ big man Karl-Anthony Towns scored an impressive 60 points against the San Antonio Spurs on March 14, 2022 during the 2021-22 regular season. He shot 19 of 31 from the field, 7 of 11 from long range, and 15 of 16 from the charity stripe – adding 17 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal.
KAT opened the game with 14 points and went into halftime with 24 points after scoring 10 in the second quarter. He absolutely went off in the third quarter with 32 points and added another 4 points in less than 4 minutes of play in the fourth quarter. He played a total of 36 minutes in the Wolves’ 149-139 victory.
15. Darius Garland (1)
Cleveland Cavaliers’ guard Darius Garland scored 51 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 13, 2022 during the 2022-23 regular season. He shot 16 of 31 from the field, 10 of 15 from the three-point line, and 9 of 13 from the free throw line – adding 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals.
He got off to a modest start, scoring 10 points in the first and 9 points in the second to enter halftime with 19 points. Despite playing over 9 minutes in the third, he only scored 5 points, but came back with an impressive 27 points in the final quarter. He played a total of 40 minutes, but his team lost 129-124.
14. Anthony Davis (1)
Los Angeles Lakers’ center Anthony Davis scored 55 points against the Washington Wizards on December 4, 2022 during the 2022-23 regular season. He shot 22 of 30 from the floor, 2 of 3 from long range, and a perfect 9 of 9 from the charity stripe – adding 17 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 blocks.
Davis was consistent all night long, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and 14 points in the second to enter halftime with 24 points. He scored another 17 points in the third quarter and 14 points in the fourth, bringing him to 55 on the night. He finished the night with 37:32 of game action in the 130-119 victory.
13. Klay Thompson (1)
Golden State Warriors’ shooting guard Klay Thompson scored 54 points against the Atlanta Hawks on January 2, 2023 during the 2022-23 regular season. He shot 21 of 39 from the field, 10 of 21 from long range, and 2 of 2 from the charity stripe – adding 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block in the 143-141 win.
Thompson scored 16 points in the first quarter and 6 points in the second, entering halftime with 22 points. He scored another 14 points in the third quarter and 8 points in the fourth quarter, but the game was tied. He added 8 points in the first overtime and 2 points in the second overtime, totaling 54 points.
12. Donovan Mitchell (1)
Cleveland Cavaliers’ guard Donovan Mitchell scored 71 points against the Chicago Bulls on January 2, 2023 during the 2022-23 regular season. He shot 22 of 24 from the floor, 7 of 15 from long range, and 20 of 25 from the charity stripe – adding 8 rebounds, 11 assists, and 1 block in nearly 50 minutes of action.
Mitchell scored just 5 points in the opening quarter and 11 points in the second to enter halftime with 16 points. He went off for 24 points in the third quarter and another 18 points in the fourth (42 points in the second half), but the game was tied. His team won 145-134 in overtime behind his 13 points in 5 minutes.
11. Pascal Siakam (1)
Toronto Raptors’ forward Pascal Siakam scored 52 points against the New York Knicks on December 21, 2022 during the 2022-23 regular season. He shot 17 of 25 from the field, 2 of 6 from long range, and 16 of 18 from the charity stripe – adding 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal in just over 41 minutes of action.
Siakam had a modest 9 points in the first quarter, but turned it up a notch with 17 points in the second – entering halftime with 26 points. He had another 17 points in the third quarter and finished the game with 9 points in the fourth quarter – bringing his total to 54 on the night. His team ended up winning 113-106.
10. LeBron James (2)
Los Angeles Lakers’ forward LeBron James scored 56 points vs. the Golden State Warriors on March 5, 2022 during the 2021-22 regular season. He shot 19 of 31 from the field, 6 of 11 from the three-point line, and 12 of 13 from the charity stripe – adding 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block in the 124-116 victory.
James also scored 50 points against the Washington Wizards on March 11, 2022 – just six days after his last 50-point game – during the 2021-22 season. He shot 18 of 25 from the floor, 6 of 9 from long range, and a perfect 8 of 8 from the charity stripe – adding 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block in the 122-109 win.
9. Kyrie Irving (2)
Brooklyn Nets’ guard Kyrie Irving scored 50 points against the Charlotte Hornets on March 8, 2022 during the 2021-22 regular season. He shot 15 of 19 from the field, 9 of 12 from the three-point line, and 11 of 13 from the charity stripe – adding 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in the 132-121 win.
Irving also scored 60 points against the Orlando Magic on March 15, 2022 – just one week after his last 50-point game – during the 2021-22 season. He shot 20 of 31 from the field, 8 of 12 from long range, and 12 of 13 from the charity stripe – adding 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block in the 150-108 win.
8. Stephen Curry (2)
Golden State Warriors’ guard Stephen Curry scored 50 points against the Atlanta Hawks on November 8, 2021 during the 2021-22 regular season. He shot 14 of 28 from the field, 9 of 19 from long range, and 13 of 13 from the charity stripe – adding 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block in the 127-113 win.
Curry also scored 50 points against the Phoenix Suns on November 16, 2022 – just 8 days after his last 50-point game – during the 2021-22 regular season. He shot 17 of 28 from the field, 7 of 11 from long range, and 9 of 9 from the free throw line – adding 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block in the 119-130 loss.
7. Devin Booker (2)
Phoenix Suns’ guard Devin Booker scored 51 points against the Chicago Bulls on November 30, 2022 during the 2021-22 regular season. He shot 20 of 25 from the floor, 6 of 7 from long range, and 5 of 6 from the free throw line – adding 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal in the Suns’ 132-113 victory.
Booker also scored 58 points against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 17, 2022 – a few weeks after his last 50-point game – during the 2021-22 season. He shot 21 of 35 from the field, 6 of 12 from long range, and 10 of 15 from the charity stripe – adding 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the 118-114 victory.
6. Kevin Durant (3)
Brooklyn Nets’ forward Kevin Durant hasn’t scored 50 points during the 2022-23 season, but he did it 3 times during the 2021-22 season. His first was a 51-point game against the Detroit Pistons on December 12, 2021 – he shot 16 of 31 from the field, 5 of 10 from long range, and 14 of 15 from the charity stripe.
Durant also scored 53 points vs. the New York Knicks on March 13, 2022 and shot 19 of 37 from the field, 4 of 13 from long range, and 11 of 12 from the charity stripe. He had 55 points vs. the Atlanta Hawks on April 2, 2022 and shot 19 of 28 from the field, 7 of 14 from long range, and 9 of 11 from the charity stripe.
5. Jayson Tatum (3)
Boston Celtics’ forward Jayson Tatum had two 50-point games during the 2021-22 season and already has another one during the 2022-23 season. He scored 51 points against the Washington Wizards on January 23, 2022 and 54 points against the Brooklyn Nets on March 6, 2022 – seven weeks later.
His most recent 50-point performance came against the Charlotte Hornets on January 16, 2023. He scored 51 points in that game and shot 15 of 23 from the field, 7 of 12 from long range, and a perfect 14 of 14 from the charity stripe – adding 9 rebounds and 5 assists in just over 40 minutes of game action.
4. Joel Embiid (3)
Philadelphia 76ers’ center Joel Embiid had one 50-point performance during the 2021-22 season and has two such games in 2022-23. His first came vs. the Orlando Magic on January 19, 2022 – he scored 50 points and shot 17 of 23 from the floor, 1 of 4 from long range, and 15 of 17 at the charity stripe.
Embiid also scored 59 points vs. the Utah Jazz on November 13, 2022 and shot 19 of 28 from the field, 1 of 5 from long range, and 20 of 24 from the charity stripe. He recently had 53 points vs. the Charlotte Hornets and shot 20 of 32 from the field, 2 of 3 from long range, and 11 of 11 from the charity stripe.
3. Damian Lillard (3)
Portland Trail Blazers’ guard Damian Lillard didn’t have a 50-point game in the 2021-22 season, but already has three such games in 2022-23. He scored 50 points vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 12, 2023 and shot 16 of 28 from the field, 5 of 13 from long range, and 13 of 15 from the charity stripe.
Lillard scored 60 points on Jan. 25, 2023 vs. the Utah Jazz and shot 21 of 29 from the field, 9 of 15 from long range, and 9 of 10 from the charity stripe. He also scored 71 points vs. the Houston Rockets on Feb. 26, 2023 and shot 22 of 38 from the field, 13 of 22 from long range, and 14 of 14 from the charity stripe.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (4)
Milwaukee Bucks’ forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored 50+ points on 4 occasions over the past 2 seasons. His first came vs. the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 15, 2022 during the 2021-22 season. He scored 50 points and shot 17 of 21 from the field, 2 of 3 from long range, and 14 of 18 from the charity stripe.
His other three 50-point games have come in the 2022-23 season. He scored 55 points against the Washington Wizards on January 3, 2023, 50 points against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 29, 2023, and 54 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on February 2, 2023. He’s having a dominant year.
1. Luka Doncic (5)
Dallas Mavericks’ guard Luka Doncic has scored the most 50-point games over the past two seasons – one during the 2021-22 season and four during the 2022-23 season. His first came vs. the Clippers on Feb. 10, 2022 when he scored 51 points on 17 of 26 shooting from the field and 7 of 14 from long range.
His four 50-point games this year have come against the Rockets on December 23, 2022 (50 points), the New York Knicks on December 27, 2022 (60 points), the San Antonio Spurs on December 31, 2022 (51 points), and the Detroit Pistons on January 30, 2023 (53 points). He’ll likely add more in the near future.
NBA Players Who Came Close to Joining This List
A lot can be said for the NBA players who have scored at least 50 points in a single game over the past two seasons, but we’d be wrong not to give a brief shoutout to those that came close. For example, Lauri Markkanen scored 49 points on Jan. 5, 2023 and Cam Thomas scored 47 points on Feb. 6, 2023.
In addition to their 50-point performances listed above, we’ve seen Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, and Ja Morant put up 49-point games this season. Furthermore, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid have each scored 48 points in a game – and James also has a 47-point and 46-point game this season.
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As far as the 2021-22 season, we saw Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, and Booker each score 49 points in a game – Booker and Edwards also had a 48-point game last year. Trae Young, Stephen Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo each had a 47-point outing, while Young also dazzled with 46 points.
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