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Joel Embiid was showered by his teammates after breaking the 76ers’ scoring record
Joel Embiid became just the ninth player in NBA history to score 70 or more points in a game as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the San Antonio Spurs 133-123.
His total of 70 points broke the franchise record of 68, held by the legendary Wilt Chamberlain since 1967.
Embiid also pulled down a career-high 18 rebounds and contributed five assists.
“When he’s motivated like that, anything can happen,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said.
“He can score in so many ways. His size allows him to do a lot of things around the basket and a lot of free throws.
“And his shooting touch is the skill that makes it very difficult to stop him.”
Tyrese Maxey was the 76ers’ second-leading scorer with 18 points, while number one draft pick Victor Wembanyama scored 33 for the Spurs.
The 76ers, who have won three straight games, are third in the Eastern Conference, while the Spurs are last in the Western Conference with just eight wins in 43 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored a franchise-record 62 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 128-125 home loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
It was only the fourth time – and the first since 1978 – that two NBA players scored at least 60 points on the same day.
When Embiid, the NBA Most Valuable Player, broke the 76ers’ record with one minute and 41 seconds remaining, they called a timeout to allow him to leave the game. He received a standing ovation at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Other players to score 70 or more points in a game include David Robinson, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker and Damian Lillard.
Chamberlain holds the record with 100 for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks in 1962.
Embiid has now scored at least 30 points in 21 consecutive games.
Kevin Durant scored a season-high 43 points to help the Phoenix Suns to a 115-113 home victory against the Chicago Bulls.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and had 17 rebounds and 10 assists to help the Milwaukee Bucks earn a 122-113 victory – their ninth in a row – over the Detroit Pistons.
Jayson Tatum contributed 39 points and 11 rebounds in the Boston Celtics’ 119-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, for whom Luka Doncic scored 33 points.
