Kobe Outscores Mavs
On this day in 2005, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant scored 62 points despite sitting out the fourth quarter of a 112-90 rout of the Dallas Mavericks. Bryant is the only player in the NBA’s shot-clock era to outscore the entire opposing team through the first three quarters of a game (62-61).
Bryant shot 18-31 from the field and 22-25 from the free throw line in just 33 minutes of playing time. No player in NBA history has attempted at least 25 shots from both the field and the free throw line in fewer minutes played.
Rare Triple-Double for Gilmore
On this day in 1977, the Chicago Bulls’ Artis Gilmore had 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 blocks in a 94-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Since the NBA began tracking blocks in 1973-74, Gilmore is one of only three players to record at least 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 blocks in a game:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Nov. 2, 1975) — 39 PTS, 23 REB, 10 BLK
Artis Gilmore (Dec. 20, 1977) — 35 PTS, 15 REB, 11 BLK
Hakeem Olajuwon (March 10, 1987) — 38 PTS, 17 REB, 12 BLK
Gilmore is one of only three Bulls to block at least 10 shots in a game:
12 — Nate Thurmond (Oct. 18, 1974)
11 — Artis Gilmore (Dec. 20, 1977)
11 — Joakim Noah (Feb. 28, 2013)
Career High for Nance
On this day in 1987, the Phoenix Suns’ Larry Nance scored a career-high 45 points in a 120-109 win over the Sacramento Kings. Nance also contributed 15 rebounds, seven blocks, and three steals, shooting 17-25 from the field (68.0%).
Since the NBA began tracking blocks in 1973-74, Nance and Alvan Adams are the only Suns to record at least 40 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in a game, and Nance is the only one to do so twice:
Alvan Adams (Feb. 22, 1977) — 47 PTS, 18 REB, 5 BLK
Larry Nance (Nov. 1, 1984) — 44 PTS, 17 REB, 6 BLK
Nance (Dec. 20, 1987) — 45 PTS, 15 REB, 7 BLK
Williams Reaches Milestone
On this day in 1992, the Portland Trail Blazers’ Buck Williams had 17 points and eight rebounds in a 130-114 victory over the Golden State Warriors, becoming the 20th player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career rebounds.
Williams is one of 27 player in NBA history to record at least 15,000 points and 10,000 rebounds. He owns the fourth-highest career field goal percentage in that group:
58.7% — Dwight Howard
58.2% — Shaquille O’Neal
55.9% — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
54.9% — Buck Williams
54.6% — Otis Thorpe
The reliable Williams had a 14-season streak in which he played at least 70 games and averaged 8.0 RPG, tied for the second-longest such streak in NBA history:
16 — Robert Parish
14 — Buck Williams
14 — Moses Malone
14 — Elvin Hayes