‘Best I’ve ever seen’: Joel Embiid goes off in 70pt MVP masterclass
The reigning NBA MVP has etched his name into the record books after delivering an out of this world display on Tuesday.
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Joel Embiid has made history, scoring a Philadelphia 76ers franchise record and new career-high 70 points.
Embiid and Victor Wembanyama’s first ever showdown in Philadelphia’s 133-123 win over San Antonio on Tuesday (all times AEDT) lived up to the hype and then some.
Though not necessarily for the contest itself, but the insane performance from Embiid to upstage the Pick 1 sensation’s 33-point outing.
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The reigning MVP finished with 70 points – the ninth player in NBA history to record the feat – on 24-of-41 shooting from the field, 21-of-23 from the line, plus 18 rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block.
With it, Embiid broke Wilt Chamberlain’s previous Sixers scoring record of 68 points, while it marked the first time since Allen Iverson in 2005 a Philadelphia player has scored 60-plus points in arguably Embiid’s most dominant individual showing ever.
Center with 65+ points in a game:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 23, 2024
â Wilt Chamberlain
â David Robinson
And now, Joel Embiid. pic.twitter.com/HX1jlOUoGU
JOEL EMBIID IS PUTTING ON A SHOW. HE HAS 65 POINTS AND COUNTING...
— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2024
Spurs-Sixers | Live on NBA TV
ð² https://t.co/TJ4nCPRIJLpic.twitter.com/7wHvrOpe9x
Haha but the people be speaking about defense. Man ainât nobody stopping anybody. The rules donât allow you too. KAT and Embiid going craaaaaaazzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyyy
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) January 23, 2024
IT IS JOEL EMBIIDâS WORLD AND WE ARE ALL LIVING IN IT
— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) January 23, 2024
THIS IS THE BEST PERFORMANCE IVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE
WOWWWW
pic.twitter.com/nKDoHffUR2
Called Embiid the best per minute player in the NBA so far this year, and nights like tonight are why. That midrange jumper is ridiculous.
— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) January 23, 2024
Heâs gonna win MVP again if he gets to 65 games.
This Embiid game is unreal.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 23, 2024
Through three quarters, Embiid had already poured in 59 points – tying his career high – on 21-of-35 shooting form the field and 16-of-17 from the line, to go with 15 rebounds and four assists.
Checking back into the game with 6:25 left in the fourth quarter, Embiid made a pair of free throws to set a new career high with 61 points to the sound of MVP chants, before hitting consecutive jumpers to get to 65 as the home fans went nuts.
So raucous were Philly supporters over Embiid’s juggernaut performance that whenever another Sixers player attempted a shot, they booed!
It didn’t stop there, as Embiid continued to attack the San Antonio defence down the stretch of the fourth term to bring up the 70-point milestone with a running finger roll layup before checking out of the game with 1:22 remaining.
By that point it was proper party time at Wells Fargo Centre.
While Embiid was the star of the show, Wembanyama also came up big with 33 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
But the French phenom was outmatched on a historic night for the Sixers celebrating their superstar centre.
As the Philadelphia commentator pointed out, Embiid likely went into the game with extra motivation to make a statement given the incredible hype around Wembanyama amid his epic rookie season.
“There’s a part of (Embiid) that would think: ‘This dude just got here, you guys can’t stopping about him. I’ve been here for a while and I am the reigning MVP, let me show you with my play tonight’,” he said.
Embiid since December 1st:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 23, 2024
40.3 PPG
11.9 RPG
5.1 APG
57/42/90%
One of the most dominant stretches in NBA history. https://t.co/wyWqdz4vtq
Embiid tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 23, 2024
70 PTS (franchise record)
18 REB
5 AST (1 TOV)
The first 70/15/5 game in NBA history. https://t.co/wyWqdz4vtq
76ers' Joel Embiid becomes the ninth player in NBA history to score 70 points or more in win over Spurs tonight.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 23, 2024
ELSEWHERE ...
It wasn’t just Embiid who went off on Tuesday, with Karl Anthony-Towns exploding for a career-best 62 points – including dropping 44 points in the first half alone.
In spite of that, Minnesota suffered a shock loss to the Charlotte Hornets 128-125 as the West’s No. 1 seed was upset at home in a stunning outcome given Towns’ monster outing.
Towns’ full line included 62 points on 21-of-35 shooting from the field with 10 threes and eight rebounds – though he committed a costly turnover with three seconds left and missed a potential game-tying three on the final buzzer.
It was just about the only mistakes he made on the night.
According to ESPN research producer Matt Williams, it marked the first time since 1978 two NBA players have scored 60-plus points in the same day.
Today is the 1st day with multiple 60-point games since April 9, 1978:
— Matt Williams (@StatsWilliams) January 23, 2024
David Thompson had 73 points
George Gervin had 63 points
There have never been multiple 65-point games on a single day in NBA history
ALL RESULTS
SPURS 123 76ERS 133
CAVALIERS 126 MAGIC 99
BUCKS 122 PISTONS 113
GRIZZLIES 108 RAPTORS 100
HORNETS 128 TIMBERWOLVES 125
CELTICS 119 - MAVERICKS 110
BULLS 113 - SUNS 115
HAWKS - KINGS
Originally published as ‘Best I’ve ever seen’: Joel Embiid goes off in 70pt MVP masterclass