Joel Embiid scored 70 points in Philadelphia, while in Minnesota, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 62. Together, the two outstanding athletes accomplished something that the NBA hadn’t seen in almost 45 years on the same day.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid both put on spectacular, historic scoring displays on the 18th anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance for the Los Angeles Lakers, including two career-high, franchise-record scoring performances. While Embiid led the squad to a 133-123 victory over the Spurs, Towns’ bold effort fell short as the Timberwolves lost 125-128 against the Hornets.
“From the time I started playing, Kobe was my guy,” Embiid stated. “He’s the reason why I started playing basketball. It’s funny, on the same night, he got 81 and that was my favourite player.”
With 100 points in a single game, Chamberlain still retains the record, although his career high with Philadelphia was 68 points. Embiid set the record with a left-handed transition layup late in the fourth quarter. When the ball struck the glass, 76ers supporters understood what was at risk, and the Wells Fargo Centre erupted in cheers.
In addition, Embiid was grabbing rebounds—he finished the game with 18 to become the first player in league history to do so. He increased his total with five assists as well.
Embiid’s previous career high was set against the Utah Jazz in November of last year with 59 points.
When asked about, The 20-year-old Wembanyama, who was facing Embiid for the first time and finished with a team-high 33 points, seven rebounds and two assists, Embiid replied “The big fella is amazing. He’s great,”. “He’s up there already among the best players in the league. Obviously, a bright future. I wouldn’t sit here and lie to you [and say I didn’t think about beating him], but then again that’s my mindset every game. It doesn’t really matter who’s in the building. My mindset is to attack and dominate offensively and defensively. Tonight was no different.” he added.
