MJ Starts Scoring Streak
On this day in 1986, the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan scored 41 points in a 99-98 win over the New Jersey Nets. It was the first of 40 consecutive 25-point games for Jordan, tied for the fourth-longest such streak in NBA history:
106 — Wilt Chamberlain (Oct. 19, 1961–Dec. 14., 1962)
47 — Oscar Robertson (Dec. 25, 1963–Oct. 17, 1964)
41 — Kevin Durant (Jan. 7, 2014–April 6, 2014)
40 — Michael Jordan (Dec. 16, 1986–March 11, 1987)
40 — Jordan (March 8, 1988–Dec. 6, 1988)
40 — James Harden (Dec. 8, 2018–March 8, 2019)
As you can see, Jordan is the only player in NBA history to record two such streaks of 40 or more games.
Jordan went on to score 3,041 points that season, the third-highest total in NBA history and one of only four 3,000-point seasons:
4,029 — Wilt Chamberlain, 1961-62
3,586 — Chamberlain, 1962-63
3,041 — Michael Jordan, 1986-87
3,033 — Chamberlain, 1960-61
50 Times Seven
On this day in 1961, the Philadelphia Warriors’ Wilt Chamberlain scored 50 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in a 112-110 win over the Chicago Packers. It was the first of seven consecutive 50-point games for Chamberlain, the longest such streak in NBA history:
7 — Wilt Chamberlain (Dec. 16, 1961–Dec. 29, 1961)
6 — Chamberlain (Jan. 11, 1962–Jan. 19, 1962)
5 — Chamberlain (Dec. 8, 1961–Dec. 13, 1961)
5 — Chamberlain (Feb. 25, 1962–March 4, 1962)
4 — Chamberlain (Jan. 27, 1962–Feb. 1, 1962)
4 — Kobe Bryant (March 16, 2007–March 23, 2007)
Chamberlain also recorded at least 15 rebounds in each of those games. The only other player in NBA history to even record back-to-back 50-point, 15-rebound games is Elgin Baylor (Dec. 11 & 13, 1961).
Wilt Sets Franchise Record
On this day in 1967, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Wilt Chamberlain scored a franchise-record 68 points and grabbed 34 rebounds in a 143-123 win over the Chicago Bulls. Chamberlain owns the top three single-game scoring performances in franchise history:
68 — Dec. 16, 1967
65 — Feb. 7, 1966
62 — March 3, 1966
Chamberlain is responsible for the top 10 single-game rebounding marks by a Sixer:
43 — March 6, 1965
42 — Jan. 14, 1966
40 — Dec. 28, 1965
38 — March 2, 1967
38 — Dec. 20, 1967
37 — March 3, 1966
37 — Dec. 1, 1967
36 — March 5, 1966
36 — March 9, 1966
36 — Feb. 28, 1967
Ewing Passes Frazier
On this day in 1993, the New York Knicks’ Patrick Ewing scored 27 points in a 108-85 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, passing Walt Frazier to become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer
Ewing surpassed Frazier in his 618th career game, 142 fewer than Frazier needed to set his mark. Ewing finished his career as a Knick with 23,665 points, over 9,000 more than the next-closest player (Frazier, 14,617).
Roundfield Rocks
On this day in 1977, the Indiana Pacers’ Dan Roundfield had 36 points, 25 rebounds, and four blocks in a 114-106 win over the Detroit Pistons. He made 13 of his 18 shots from the field (72.2%).
Over the last 50 NBA seasons, the only other player to record at least 35 points and 25 rebounds with 70% shooting from the field in a game is Moses Malone, who did so twice:
Jan. 14, 1978 — 39 PTS, 26 REB, 16-21 FG
Oct. 17, 1979 — 44 PTS, 29 REB, 16-22 FG
Roundfield is the only Pacer to record at least 25 points and 25 rebounds in a game since the franchise joined the NBA in 1976.
On McCloud Nine
On this day in 1995, the Dallas Maverick’ George McCloud made 10 3-pointers in a loss to the Phoenix Suns, tying the then NBA single-game record shared by Brian Shaw and Joe Dumars. McCloud scored 36 points, at the time a career high.
McCloud missed just two shots from 3-point range (83.3%), tied for the fourth-highest 3-point field goal percentage by a player with at least 10 3-pointers made in a game:
90.9% — Ty Lawson, 10-11 (April 9, 2011)
90.9% — Klay Thompson, 10-11 (Jan. 21, 2019)
84.6% — Stephen Curry, 11-13 (Feb. 27, 2013)
83.3% — George McCloud (Dec. 16, 1995)
83.3% — Danilo Gallinari (Feb. 24, 2021)
Although McCloud's NBA record has since been surpassed, he still holds a share of the franchise record with Wesley Matthews and Tim Hardaway Jr.