Joel Embiid drops Philadelphia 76ers franchise-record 70 points on anniversary of Kobe Bryant's 81-point game

Joel Embiid became the ninth different player in NBA history to score 70 points in a game as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA.

Embiid’s 70-point haul was a franchise record, breaking Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain’s previous 76ers record of 68 points.

It also came on the 18th anniversary of former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant scoring 81 points, the second-highest all-time total in NBA history.

"From the time I started playing, Kobe was my guy," said Embiid.

"He's the reason I started playing basketball. It's funny, on the same night, he got 81 and that was my favourite player."

Embiid also had a season-high 18 rebounds and five assists as he upstaged a strong showing from Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama, who scored 33 points.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks held the previous record for most points scored in a game this season with 64.

Chamberlain holds the all-time NBA record with 100 points and also had six games where he scored at least 70 points.

"Obviously, Wilt accomplished...everything in the history of this league, and basketball in general," said Embiid.

“So to be in the same conversation, that's pretty cool.

"It was just a great night. I had it going. I mentioned a few times, a lot of team-mates are extremely unselfish and they just kept giving me the ball and I just finished it."

Nick Nurse, head coach of the 76ers, added about Embiid: “Obviously he can score in so many ways, just his sheer size gets him a lot of stuff around the basket, gets him a lot of free throws.

“The shooting touch is the skill part. The way he moves, the skill he has, the size he is, and he gets motivated like that, anything can happen I guess.”

Elsewhere, Kevin Durant scored the winner with 1.6 seconds remaining as the Phoenix Suns beat the Chicago Bulls for their sixth straight victory.

The Suns trailed by 23 points at one stage but fought back to win 115-113.

Durant finished with 43 points, eight assists and six rebounds, breaking a 113-113 tie with his last-gasp 17-foot jumper.

“I know these games are high stakes and there's a lot on the line," said Durant. “But at the end of the day, it's still hoop.”

Antetokounmpo grabbed a triple-double with 31 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 122-113.

Jayson Tatum scored 39 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 119-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

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