Joel Embiid puts together a game for the ages

Joel Embiid (Google Images)

Anyway you look at it, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid of Yaounde, Cameroon had a game for the ages on Sunday. In a 105-98 76ers win over the Utah Jazz, Embiid scored 59 points. It was the first time this season a player reached the half-century mark in points and won. Earlier on Sunday, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland of Gary, Indiana scored 51 points in a 129-124 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

However, the stat line for Embiid puts him in a class of his own. According to Victor Mather of the New York Times on Monday, Embiid became the first player in NBA history to have a minimum of 50 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five blocks in a single game. In addition to his 59 points, he had 11 rebounds, eight assists and seven blocks. Embiid literally came two assists and three blocks away from a quadruple double.

Embiid’s seven blocks were the second most number of blocks in a single game. Evan Mobley of San Diego, California had eight blocks for the Cavaliers in a 112-88 win over the Detroit Pistons on November 4.

On Sunday, Embiid was simply the primary reason why Philadelphia was victorious. He had 56.2% of the 76ers’ total points, half of the 76ers total blocks (no player had more than one), 28.2% of the 76ers’ total rebounds, 38.1% of the 76ers’ total assists, and took 92.9% of the 76ers’s free throw attempts. The last stat could be considered the most gawdy of them all.

Embiid was one of only two 76ers players to reach double digits in scoring. Guard Tyrese Maxey of Dallas, Texas had 18 points. Embiid made 19 of 28 field goals, 20 of 24 free throws, made one of five three-pointers and had one steal. With the win, the 76ers improve to a record of seven wins and seven losses.

This is the third time Embiid has had 50 points in a game. He scored 50 points in a 112-105 76ers win over the Chicago Bulls on February 19, 2021, and then 50 points again in a 123-110 76ers win over the Orlando Magic, exactly 11 months later, on January 19, 2022. On the season, Embiid is averaging 32.3 points per game, 10.1 rebounds per game, 4.1 assists per game, 1.8 blocks per game, a field goal percentage of .491, three-point percentage of .237, and a free throw percentage of .831.

What was the greatest single-game performance you have ever seen in the NBA? Tell us what you think in the comments below.