Published 11:38 IST, October 24th 2019
NBA: Kyrie Irving among players with 50-point game in season opener
This morning, Kyrie Irving scored fifty points in a losing effort against the Minnesota. Read on as we take a look at all the players who achieved this.
The 2019-20 NBA season began on Wednesday with the Clippers defeating the Lakers and defending champions Toronto Raptors downing the New Orleans Pelicans. This morning, the Brooklyn Nets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves by just a point in the overtime. The Nets were not out of positives, though, as Kyrie Irving ended up scoring fifty points for the Nets in his debut game for the team.
Irving gets 50 points in the season opener
Irving could not help the Nets surpass the Timberwolves but he did his very best. Irving scored 50 points in this morning's game which included eight rebounds and seven assists. This was Irving's first season match for the Nets after signing with them in July. Irving was playing for the Boston Celtics before his ongoing stint with the Nets. He was the first pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He also won Gold for the US Basketball team in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Other Instances when players have scored 50 points in the Season Opener
Anthony Davis - 2016/17
In the game that the New Orleans Pelicans ended up losing against the Denver Nuggets, Anthony Davis scored 50 points with 15 rebounds and five assists.
Michael Jordan - 1986/87
As the Chicago Bulls played the New York Knicks in the season opener, Jordan scored 50 points. This season would only mark the start of Jordan's spectacular season which saw him becoming the season's highest scorer with an average of 37.1 points per game.
Michael Jordan - 1989/90
In the Chicago Bulls versus Cleveland Cavaliers opening game, Jordan scored 54 points for the Bulls which was his second instance of scoring more than 50 points in an opening game after 1986/87. He got 14 rebounds and six assists.
Wilt Chamberlain - 1962/63
Chamberlain, who is arguably one of the best players of all time, began the '62/63 season with a dominant 56 points for the San Francisco Warriors against the Detroit Pistons. Chamberlain finished his NBA career with 118 50-point games, a statistic which has not been paralleled by any player in NBA history in the 46 years since Chamberlain's retirement.
Elgin Baylor - 1959/60
In the season opener of '59/'60, Baylor scored 52 points for the Minneapolis Lakers against the Detroit Pistons. Much like Irving's 2016 effort, the Lakers ended up on the losing side of this fixture.
Updated 19:52 IST, October 24th 2019