On This Day (Jan. 27)

Notable events from NBA history that occurred on January 27.

The Mailman Delivers

On this day in 1990, the Utah Jazz’s Karl Malone had the best game of his career, scoring a career-high 61 points and grabbing 18 rebounds in a 144-96 rout of the Milwaukee Bucks. Malone and Pete Maravich (Feb. 25, 1977) are the only players in franchise history to record a 60-point game.

Malone made 21 of his 26 shots from the field (80.8%). He and Wilt Chamberlain (Feb. 9, 1969) are the only players in NBA history to record a field goal percentage of at least 80% in a 60-point game.

Malone also shot 19-23 from the free throw line (82.6%), making him the only player in NBA history to shoot at least 75% from both the field and the free throw line in a 60-point game.

Malone played just 33 minutes in this game. Only two players in NBA history have recorded fewer minutes played in a 60-point game:

• 29 — Klay Thompson (Dec. 5, 2016)

• 31 — James Harden (Nov. 30, 2019)

• 33 — George Gervin (April 9, 1978)

• 33 — Karl Malone (Jan. 27, 1990)

• 33 — Kobe Bryant (Dec. 20, 2005)