High-scoring night in NBA: Giannis drops 59, Wemby nets career high

In Milwaukee, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his ninth 50-point game.

Nearly 1,200 miles south in San Antonio, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama hit 50 points for the first time in his career.

The struggling Bucks needed Antetokounmpo’s 59-point, 14-rebound, seven-assist performance to beat the Detroit Pistons 127-120 in overtime Wednesday. The 59 points are the most any player has put up in a game this season.

Wembanyama scored 50 points in the Spurs’ 139-130 victory against the Washington Wizards, and it came on the same day that the Spurs revealed that Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich had a mild stroke Nov. 2 before the team played the Minnesota Timberwolves.

It’s just the 24th time there’s been multiple 50-point scorers on the same day in the regular season — the ninth time in the past 10 seasons and 12th time since 2000-01, according to the league. 

Here’s a closer look at the performances from Wembanyama and Antetokounmpo:

Victor Wembanyama scores 50 vs. Wizards

At 20 years, 314 days old, Wembanyama became the fourth-youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game – behind Brandon Jennings, LeBron James and Devin Booker.

It came in his 83rd NBA game, and he delivered a masterful shooting performance: 18-for-29 from the field, including 8-for-16 on 3-pointers. His eight made 3s, 18 made field goals and 29 shot attempts are career highs.

He also became the first Spurs player to score at least 50 points and make at least five 3s in a game. He added six rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal for the 6-6 Spurs. It overshadowed Washington guard Jordan Poole’s 42 points.

Wembanyama’s previous highest-scoring game came last season when he scored 40 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 7.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 59 points vs. Pistons

The Bucks won a second consecutive game for the first time this season, improving to 4-8, and Antetokounmpo made it possible with the second-highest scoring game of his career. He scored 11 of Milwaukee’s 16 overtime points on 5-for-5 shooting – one 3-pointer, two mid-range shots and two at the rim.

Antetokounmpo’s performance was a model of offensive efficiency: 21-for-34 from the field and 16-for-17 from the foul line – pretty good for a guy who is a 69.9% career free throw shooter and was shooting 55.4% on free throws this season before Wednesday’s game.

The 21 made field goals matches his career high. With his three blocks and two steals, he became the first player in the NBA to record at least 50 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two steals since blocks and steals became official stats in 1973-74.

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham had 35 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals.