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[Saba Sports News] Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, renowned as one of basketball’s all-time great scorers, was visibly astonished by Joel Embiid’s performance. Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers center, scored an astounding 70 points, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s longstanding franchise record of 68 points set in 1967.
While Durant’s Suns were playing against the Chicago Bulls the same night, he only learned about Embiid’s scoring feat during a postgame press conference. His reaction of disbelief, questioning “70? He had 70?” highlighted his amazement.
Embiid, maintaining his impressive form throughout the game, scored 59 points by the end of the third quarter. The close scoreline necessitated his play until the last minute, allowing him to reach the 70-point mark. His statistics were remarkable, with 24 out of 41 field goals and 21 out of 23 free throws.
This performance might have been spurred by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s light-hearted pre-game comments. Meanwhile, Durant himself had an impressive game, scoring 43 points, including a game-winning shot, leading the Suns to a 115-113 victory over the Bulls in Phoenix.
On any other night, Durant’s 43 points would have been a major talking point. However, Embiid had already matched this score early in the third quarter. Additionally, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves surpassed Durant’s score by halftime with 62 points. Despite this, Towns and the Timberwolves faced criticism from their coach post-game, contrasting with the acclaim for Durant and Embiid’s performances.