The 40-Point Pace
03/07/2023
By: Jeff Yoder
NBA Players Shattering Scoring Records With More 40-Point Games in 2022-23 Season
Scoring has reached a new dimension. The 2022-23 NBA season has been a playground for high-scoring performances with players dropping 40-point games almost nightly. A dozen-or-so 50-point games and even two 71-point games have stolen the show. And with three more 40-pieces last night, the league now boasts 160 40-point games this season. That’s already 18 more than the all-time record that was broken in late February (142: 1961-62). The league is on pace for 200 40-pointers by the end of the regular season.
What Happened Last Night?
Three more 40-balls occurred in the Eastern Conference with Donovan Mitchell (40 points) leading the Cavs past the Celtics in overtime (118-114). The 76ers also beat the Pacers in a shootout (147-143) where Joel Embiid (42 points) and Tyrese Haliburton (40 points) both caught fire. Damian Lillard also had a 31-13-12 triple-double, but he leads the way with 14 40-point games in 2022-23.
Most 40-Point Games This Season
Damian Lillard (POR): 14
Luka Doncic (DAL): 12
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 11
Joel Embiid (PHI): 11
Jayson Tatum (BOS): 10
Donovan Mitchell (CLE): 8
Players With 5 40-Point Games: LeBron James (LAL), Nikola Jokic (DEN), Zach LaVine (CHI), Devin Booker (PHX), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
Defense be gone. No one — not even Lillard — will come close to the individual record for the most 40-point games in a season (Wilt Chamberlain, 63). Michael Jordan (37), Kobe Bryant (27), and plenty of others had better individual scoring years, but the league-wide scoring binge is reaching new heights.
NBA Highlights
Cavaliers def. Celtics (118-114, OT)
Blazers def. Pistons (110-104)
Nuggets def. Raptors (118-113)
Photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images