5 Video games of 43 or Extra on the Similar Day – NBC Los Angeles

The NBA went into Christmas with an evening like none different.

For the primary time in NBA historical past, 5 gamers scored a minimum of 43 factors on the identical day. It occurred Friday, with Dallas’ Luka Doncic leading the way with 50 points in opposition to Houston.

The others: Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid scored 44 in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma Metropolis’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a career-high 44 in opposition to New Orleans, New York’s RJ Barrett had 44 in opposition to Chicago and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton scored a career-best 43 in opposition to Miami.

“Luka is Luka,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd stated. “He’s the very best participant on the earth and he confirmed that tonight, carrying the load offensively once more.”

As he often does, Doncic deferred the credit score.

“My teammates trusted me,” he stated after his 17-for-30 night time that additionally included 10 rebounds and eight assists.

The most important shot of the night time in Dallas’ 112-106 win over Houston may need been Doncic hitting a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to provide the Mavericks a five-point lead.

And that wasn’t even essentially the most dramatic 3 that the night time’s large scorers had.

That honor went to Haliburton, who made 10 3-pointers — the last of them with 4.3 seconds left to provide the Pacers a 111-108 win over the Heat.

“Tyrese Haliburton is an artist,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stated when requested about Haliburton’s different-than-most capturing stroke. “And , some people who have unconventional methods to achieve success on this recreation, it’s a must to simply depart them alone and permit them to do what they do. His artistry is the best way he will get the ball within the basket, the best way he sees the sport, the best way he connects teammates and the particular individual that he’s.”

Embiid’s large night time got here in Philadelphia’s seventh consecutive win. Barrett and the Knicks wound up falling to the Bulls, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s 44 got here in an overtime loss to New Orleans — which he practically prolonged into double time beyond regulation, with a 40-foot desperation shot on the finish hitting the entrance rim on the buzzer of a 128-125 remaining.

“It was shut. Not shut sufficient,” stated Gilgeous-Alexander, whose nice begin to this season has cemented himself as an early front-runner for NBA’s Most Improved Participant honors — to not point out different postseason accolades, and certain a visit to the All-Star Recreation as nicely.

There now have been simply over 4,400 cases of a participant scoring 40 or extra factors in a regular-season recreation. Friday was solely the fifth time that 5 of these occurred on the identical day — and the second time it occurred in 2022.

On April 10, the ultimate day of the 2021-22 common season, Obi Toppin had 42 for New York, Jalen Inexperienced had 41 for Houston, Malik Monk scored 41 for the Los Angeles Lakers, Klay Thompson had 41 for Golden State and Victor Oladipo scored 40 for Miami.

The opposite three cases of 5 40-point scorers:

— Feb. 21, 2003 — Tracy McGrady scored 52 for Orlando, Jamal Mashburn 50 for the New Orleans Hornets, Michael Jordan 43 for Washington, Allen Iverson 41 for Philadelphia and Kobe Bryant 40 for the Lakers.

— Feb. 2, 2001 — Allen Iverson scored 47 for Philadelphia, Bryant 44 for the Lakers, Chris Webber 41 for Sacramento, Paul Pierce 40 for Boston and Jerry Stackhouse 40 for Detroit.

— Dec. 25, 1961 — Wilt Chamberlain scored 59 for the Philadelphia Warriors, Tom Heinsohn 45 for Boston, Elgin Baylor 40 for the Lakers, Richie Guerin 40 for New York and Oscar Robertson 40 for Cincinnati.