Donovan Mitchell is currently sitting at the top of this season’s scoring list after he dropped 71 points in the Cavaliers’ first game of the new year. He became the seventh player in league history to join the 70-point club and led Cleveland to a 145-134 overtime victory against Chicago.
But Mitchell is far from the only star to light up the scoreboard during the 2022-23 season.
Vote now for your favorite NBA All-Star starters!
Highest-scoring games of 2022-23 season
Mitchell’s 71-point outburst pushed him ahead of Doncic, who posted a 60-point triple-double on Dec. 27. The Mavericks star has already scored 50 or more points in three games this season.
Joel Embiid and Devin Booker are the only other players to hit the 50-point threshold multiple times during the 2022-23 campaign.
Highest-scoring games in NBA history
Mitchell’s performance was certainly impressive, but he is no match for Wilt Chamberlain. The Hall of Famer scored 72 points or more on five separate occasions during his illustrious career, and he set the NBA record with 100 points on March 2, 1962.
Lakers legend Kobe Bryant is the only other player in league history who has eclipsed 80 points. He poured in 81 points on Jan. 22, 2006.
