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Joel Embiid might have just settled the NBA MVP race on Tuesday night after dropping 52 points against the Boston Celtics. Embiid recorded the fifth 50-point game of his career in the Philadelphia 76ers' 103-101 victory.
The 29-year-old big man has been unstoppable this season. He's averaging 33.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. He's also shooting 54.7% from the field, 32.8% from beyond the arc and 85.9% from the free-throw line.
However, Embiid is still not on the list of players with the most 50-point games. He's got a long way to go before he can even crack the top five.
#1 Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for most 50-point games in NBA history with 118. He has 87 more than the next guy on the list.
The bulk of Chamberlain's 50-point games happened in the 1961-62 season, in which he averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game. "The Big Dipper" also scored an NBA-record 100 points in a single game during the same season.
#2 Michael Jordan
As great as Michael Jordan was, he only has 31 50-point games in his career. He has a career high of 69 points, which he scored against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 28, 1990.
While MJ didn't have the record for most points in league history, he does for most points scored in a playoff game with 63.
#3 Kobe Bryant
"Black Mamba" comes in third on the list with 25 50-point games. His career high was 81 points, which is the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. He did it on Jan. 22, 2006 in a win over the Toronto Raptors.
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#4 James Harden
James Harden is one of the most gifted scorers in NBA history. Harden dominated the 2010s with his scoring prowess and has the fourth-most 50-point games in league history with 23.
Harden's career high is 61 points, which he achieved wice in a span of just two months in 2019. His first 61-point game came on Jan. 23 against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. His second 61-point game was on March 22 against the San Antonio Spurs.
#5 Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor remains one of the greatest players in NBA history. Baylor revolutionized the game in the 1960s with his athleticism and scoring ability. He had 17 50-point games in his career, which is good for the fifth spot on the list.
Baylor was also the second player ever to reach 70 points in a game after Wilt Chamberlain. He scored 71 points on Nov. 15, 1960 against the New York Knicks.
Current players who can break into the top five before their careers are over include Damian Lillard (15), LeBron James (14) and Steph Curry (12).
