NBA: 4 Active Players Who Have Scored 70+ Points in a Game

Donovan Mitchell and Joel Embiid - Cleveland Cavaliers v Philadelphia 76ers

(Photo : Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - Donovan Mitchell (#45) of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Joel Embiid (#21) of the Philadelphia 76ers speak during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center on February 15, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Scoring 70 points in a game is a rarity in the NBA, and such performances are usually remembered for a very long time.

Before the 2022-23 season, Devin Booker's 70-point performance in 2017 was the only game where a player scored 70 points since David Robinson scored 71 in 1994.

However, in the past year alone, three players have scored 70 points, bringing the number of active NBA players reaching this mark to four.

4 Active NBA Players Who Have Scored 70+ Points in a Game

1. Devin Booker (70 points, March 24, 2017)

Nearly seven years ago, the Phoenix Suns star delivered an extraordinary performance by scoring 70 points against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden despite his team's 130-120 loss.

Booker played a remarkable 45 minutes in the game, shooting 21-of-40 from the field, including 4-of-11 from three-point range and 24-of-26 from the free-throw line.

Alongside his scoring prowess, he contributed eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals in this historic game.

2. Donovan Mitchell (71 points, January 2, 2023)

Mitchell became the seventh player in NBA history to drop more than 70 points in a game when he scored 71 for the Cleveland Cavaliers in a thrilling 145-134 overtime win against the Chicago Bulls at home.

The Cavs star finished the night shooting 22-of-34 from the field, 7-of-15 from deep, and 20-of-25 from the free-throw line. He also contributed 11 assists and 8 rebounds in the win.

Mitchell surpassed the previous Cavaliers' single-game scoring record of 57 points in a game, jointly held by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

3. Damian Lillard (71 points, February 26, 2023)

Lillard achieved an NBA record by being the only player to score over 70 points in under 40 minutes, accomplishing the feat with 71 points in 39 minutes as the Portland Trail Blazers secured a 131-114 victory over the Houston Rockets.

The NBA 75th Anniversary Team member shot 22 of 38 from the field. Notably, he made 13 three-pointers on 22 attempts, falling just one short of tying the NBA single-game record held by Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson.

He is also the oldest player to score 70+ at 32 years old. Aside from the scoring explosion, he added six rebounds and six assists for the evening.

4. Joel Embiid (70 points, January 22, 2024)

The reigning MVP played a sensational game by scoring 70 points in the Philadelphia 76ers' 133-123 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at the Wells Fargo Center on January 22, 2024.

Embiid was on fire all night, shooting 24-of-41 from the field, 21-of-23 from the free throw line, and 1-of-2 from beyond the arc.

The six-time NBA All-Star also set a career-high in rebounds by grabbing 18 boards and adding five assists, one steal, and one block.

This performance for the ages surpassed the 76ers franchise scoring record of 68 points previously held by Wilt Chamberlain, achieved in a game against the Bulls at Chicago Stadium on December 16, 1967.