Joel Embiid carefully assessed the formidable Victor Wembanyama prior to their highly anticipated clash, and what followed was an unforgettable NBA debut for the San Antonio Spurs rookie. The reigning MVP showcased an extraordinary performance, guiding the Philadelphia 76ers to a 133-123 victory with an astounding career-high of 70 points, accompanied by 18 rebounds and five assists, leaving the Spurs defense helpless.
This historic night for Embiid set a new record for the 76ers, surpassing even the legendary Wilt Chamberlain. Remarkably efficient, he shot 24 of 41 from the field and an impressive 21 of 23 from the free-throw line, requiring just one successful 3-pointer on two attempts to reach the milestone.
In a coincidental twist, Karl-Anthony Towns also scored 62 points on the same night in a Minnesota Timberwolves game against the Charlotte Hornets, marking the first occurrence of two players scoring 60-plus points on the same day since 1978.
Facing Wembanyama, Zach Collins, or any defensive strategy the Spurs attempted, Embiid dominated the paint with his signature bully ball. The first half alone saw him amass 34 points and 10 rebounds, setting the tone for the historic night.
Embiid continued his relentless pace in the third quarter, achieving his eighth career 50-point game. By the end of the quarter, he matched a career-high of 59 points and 15 rebounds before taking a brief break on the bench.
Unyielding in the fourth quarter, Embiid re-entered the game with 6:38 remaining and continued to add to his tally. Ultimately, he surpassed Giannis Antetokounmpo’s season-high with a pull-up jumper for his 65th point. He then tied Chamberlain’s team record of 68 points with a free throw before claiming the record as his own with a coast-to-coast layup for his 70th point.
The historic achievement makes Embiid the ninth player in NBA history to score 70 points or more in a single game, coincidentally occurring on the 18th anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s legendary 81-point performance.
Notably, the game also served as a “Welcome-to-the-NBA” moment for Wembanyama, who, despite an impressive offensive display of 33 points and seven rebounds, found himself overpowered by Embiid’s sheer physical dominance.
With this stellar performance, Embiid solidifies his position in the MVP race, where he competes with co-favorite Nikola Jokić. Following a scorching streak and a standout effort against Jokić last week, Embiid’s Monday night masterpiece likely places him at the forefront of the MVP discussion as the NBA reaches the midpoint of the regular season.