Joel Embiid’s 70-Point Masterclass: A Night the Sixers-and the NBA-Won’t Forget
On January 22, 2024, Joel Embiid didn’t just play basketball-he authored a chapter in NBA history.
In front of a raucous Philly crowd, Embiid dropped a franchise-record 70 points in just 37 minutes of action against the San Antonio Spurs. It wasn’t just the volume of scoring that stunned-it was the efficiency, the control, the sheer inevitability of it all. This was Embiid at the peak of his powers, in the middle of the best stretch of his career, and there was nothing the Spurs-or anyone-could do to stop it.
Let’s walk through one of the most dominant individual performances the league has ever seen.
The Build-Up: MVP Form Meets Rookie Hype
The matchup had plenty of intrigue going in. It was the first-ever meeting between Embiid and Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ towering rookie phenom. But while Wemby brought the promise of the future, Embiid was fully entrenched in the now-and making a serious case for back-to-back MVPs.
Coming into the game, Embiid had scored 30 or more in 20 straight games and was averaging a mind-bending 1.03 points per minute-territory previously occupied only by Wilt Chamberlain. And on this night, he wasn’t just chasing numbers. He was chasing history.
Setting the Tone Early
From the opening tip, it was clear: the Spurs had no answer.
Embiid got to the line on the first possession, then followed it up with a smooth pull-up jumper over Wembanyama. A few plays later, he hit the rookie with a step-back J, then drew a foul and calmly sank two more free throws. It was a masterclass in footwork, touch, and physicality.
When Wembanyama tried to hold his ground in the post, Embiid pinned him deep and threw down an uncontested dunk off a clean entry pass from Nicolas Batum. Just five minutes in, Embiid had 11 of the Sixers’ 18 points.
Zach Collins tried his luck next. It didn’t go much better.
Embiid immediately drew a foul, finished through contact, and converted the and-one. The Spurs began sending soft double teams, but Embiid kept finding angles, carving up the defense with putbacks, midrange jumpers, and second-chance points.
He capped the first quarter with a ridiculous no-look reverse finish along the baseline-just for good measure. At the end of one, he had 24 points, the most he’d ever scored in a first quarter. And he was just getting started.
Second Quarter: Keeping the Pressure On
After a brief rest to open the second, Embiid returned and picked up right where he left off.
He drew two more fouls, hit all four free throws, then buried a high-arcing jumper over both Wembanyama and Jeremy Sochan. With a minute left in the half, he grabbed an offensive board and tipped in his own miss to tie his career-best for a half (32 points). Then, with the clock winding down, he nailed a midrange pull-up off a Tyrese Maxey feed to set a new personal best: 34 points in a single half.
Third Quarter: The Onslaught Continues
The second half opened with Embiid going right back to work. He scored over Wembanyama in the post, forcing a quick Spurs timeout. Whatever adjustments they tried didn’t matter-Embiid was in full control.
He alternated between overpowering defenders in the paint and splashing midrange jumpers with ease. When Wembanyama checked out, Embiid turned up the pressure.
He finished through a triple-team, drew fouls, and hit a variety of shots-face-ups, spins, turnarounds. At one point, he scored nine points in a 90-second stretch, including a silky jumper from the free-throw line and a baseline spin into a layup off a feed from Furkan Korkmaz.
Then came the exclamation point: a turnaround three over Collins to beat the shot clock at the end of the third. It was his only make from deep all night, but it pushed him to 59 points-already a career-high-with a full quarter still on the clock.
Fourth Quarter: History Made
After another rest to begin the fourth, Embiid checked back in with just under seven minutes left. He wasted no time.
A foul drawn on Sochan? Two more points.
A midrange jumper over Sochan? Add two more.
Another jumper from the free-throw line? That’s 65.
Then came a flagrant foul by Blake Wesley. Embiid hit 1-of-2. 66.
With a couple minutes left, he drew another foul-this time on Devin Vassell-and calmly knocked down both free throws. 68.
And then, the moment: Embiid came up with a steal, dished it to Maxey, and got it right back. With the crowd on its feet, he barreled into the paint and flipped in a finger roll over Keldon Johnson.
Seventy.
A Night for the Ages
With that final bucket, Embiid passed Wilt Chamberlain’s 68-point mark for the most points ever scored in a single game by a 76er. Think about that for a second-Wilt Chamberlain, the man who once dropped 100 in a game, now sits second on the Sixers’ all-time list.
Embiid’s 24 made field goals rank fourth in franchise history. His 21 free throws made? Fifth.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. This was a night that showcased Embiid’s full arsenal-power, finesse, footwork, IQ, and an unrelenting motor. He played with purpose, poise, and a sense of occasion.
After the final buzzer, there was a poignant moment as Embiid shared an embrace with Robert Covington, Furkan Korkmaz, and Spurs assistant coach Brett Brown-the former Sixers head coach who helped guide Embiid through his early years in the league.
“He’s done a lot, not just for me, but for the city of Philadelphia too,” Embiid said.
On this night, Embiid gave Philly something unforgettable in return.
And for the rest of the league? Consider the message delivered. Joel Embiid isn’t just chasing MVPs-he’s chasing greatness.