Joel Embiid 70-Point Game Sets New 76ers’ Franchise Record, Leaves NBA Fans in Awe
Joel Embiid set a new franchise record for the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, dropping 70 points against the San Antonio Spurs in a 133–123 victory.
Ahead of the game, basketball fans were already salivating at the potential of the first matchup between Embiid and rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama. While Wembanyama had a fine day himself—33 points and seven rebounds—Embiid was simply overwhelming through the entire game, dropping 24 points in the first quarter and not slowing down.
EMBIID HAS 63 ????
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 23, 2024
WHAT IS GOING ON TONIGHT??
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/ID6PMil6cE
In the fourth quarter with the game relatively in hand, the 76ers continued to feed Embiid as he pursued the franchise record of 68 points, held by Wilt Chamberlain. The home crowd booed when other players on the 76ers got a shot up.
Eventually, Embiid hit his mark, tying Chamberlain with a pair of made free throws and breaking it with a coast-to-coast bucket to close out his night.
https://t.co/VaXPisM2D3 pic.twitter.com/5luetARNuc
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 23, 2024
Embiid’s 70-point night came on the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s famous 81-point night in 2006. He’s the ninth player in NBA history to hit 70 points in a game, joining Chamberlain and Bryant, as well as David Thompson, Damian Lilliard, Donovan Mitchell, David Robinson, Elgin Baylor, and Devin Booker.
Embiid’s final line on the night: 70 points, 18 rebounds, and five assists, shooting 24-of-41 from the field and 21-of-23 from the line.
His performance simply left the NBA world in awe.
70 PIECE NUGGET!!!! @JoelEmbiid ????????????????????????. CRAZY
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 23, 2024
Embiid devours the Spurs. pic.twitter.com/mWHsl5OW46
— nba paint (@nba_paint) January 23, 2024
Congrats on a career night @JoelEmbiid!! #70piece ????????????????????????????
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) January 23, 2024
Per the great @StatsWilliams:
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) January 23, 2024
Joel Embiid is the second player to have 65 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in an NBA game.
The other? Michael Jordan.
What in the world am I watching?! ????????#Sixers #BrotherlyLove pic.twitter.com/RpEpy8xxAF
— Hunter Brody (@Brodes81) January 23, 2024
This Embiid game is unreal.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 23, 2024
Joel Embiid is the only player EVER to score 70+ points in 37 minutes or less.
— Jack Connell (@JackPConnell) January 23, 2024
MVP. pic.twitter.com/CVvExMfl8J
Joel Embiid is like when you get to control Venom in Spider-Man 2
— Stephen Asian Smith ????️ (@PabloTorre) January 23, 2024
Joel Embiid's final line: 70 points on 24-41 shooting, 21-23 from the line. Unreal.
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) January 23, 2024