Embiid Drops 60 Points
Joel Embiid exploded for 60 points on March 1, while Nikola Jokic nearly hit a 50/20/20 line the same night. Kawhi Leonard also dropped 50 points, and the Hornets made 30+ threes in a win over Portland with Brandon Miller shining. The Knicks halted San Antonio's 11-game win streak behind Mikal Bridges' 25 points, despite Wembanyama's 25-13-4 effort.
The Spurs' 11-game win streak that the Knicks snapped was historically dominant. San Antonio went unbeaten through the entire month of February, becoming the first team in NBA history to win every game in a month (minimum 10 played) while also scoring at least 110 points in each contest. New York's victory was powered by a stunning 26-2 run in the first half that San Antonio could not overcome. The Spurs' uncharacteristically sloppy play contributed heavily to their loss, as they committed 22 turnovers which led directly to 24 points for the Knicks. For Joel Embiid, this 60-point outburst adds to his legacy of massive scoring games. He previously set the 76ers' franchise record with a 70-point, 18-rebound performance against the Spurs in January 2024, accomplishing that feat in just 37 minutes. Kawhi Leonard's 50-point effort was actually a career-high 55, his first-ever game reaching that mark in his 14-year career. The performance tied the Clippers' single-game franchise scoring record, a mark he now shares with teammate James Harden. The Hornets' recent success from beyond the arc has been record-setting. Prior to hitting 16 threes against Portland, they had made 72 in the previous three games, which equaled the NBA record for the most three-pointers made in a three-game span. While Nikola Jokic didn't hit the lofty 50/20/20 mark, his actual stat line of 35 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists against Minnesota was just another night at the office.
