Seemingly every night the we see outstanding performances in the NBA, but only the best of the best get remembered. So today, let's count down the greatest performances so far this season.
#10: Ivica Zubac (vs Pacers)
Game Stats: 31 PTS | 29 REB | 3 AST | 3 BLK | 5 TO | 14/17 FG | 3/3 FT
Ivica Zubac must have eaten his Wheaties the morning of the Clippers late November game against Indiana, because he was an absolute beast on the glass. Zubac's whopping 29 rebounds blew his previous career high (18) out of the water, and vaulted him into a tie for 5th for the most boards in a game since 2000. And if the rebounds weren't enough, Zubac also put up an extremely efficient 31 points (the second-highest scoring mark of his career). He did eventually foul out of the game, but Zubac did everything the Clippers could have expected, and then some, leading Los Angeles to a win despite the absences of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
#9: Luka Doncic (vs Warriors)
Game Stats: 41 PTS | 12 REB | 12 AST | 4 STL | 1 BLK | 5 TO | 14/27 FG | 4/9 3PT | 9/15 FT
Luka Magic was on full display against Golden State, as he led his Mavericks in every major counting stat in a hard-fought three point win. Doncic outscored the Warriors starters besides Stephen Curry combined, to the point that for most guys it would almost be silly to pass the ball. Not Luka, though. His passing shined too, as he consistently created open looks for his teammates, who just had to be ready to shoot. Doncic's greatness is underscored by the fact that for 99% of the league, this would be a signature game. But for Luka, it's "just another 40-point triple-double" (as we'll see later on the list).
#8: Devin Booker (@ Jazz)
Game Stats: 49 PTS | 8 REB | 10 AST | 1 STL | 1 TO | 16/31 FG | 2/9 3PT | 15/15 FG
The Suns' trip to Utah may have ended in crushing fashion, with Lauri Markkanen's 38 points handing them the loss, but it was a statement game for Devin Booker. His point total naturally stands out, but they aren't the only reason Booker's night was so impressive. In a game without Chris Paul, in which Booker was relied upon to handle the ball even more than normal, he returned a Point God type performance. With 10 dimes and just one turnover, Booker's took care of the ball all night, setting up a well-spread scoring output among the rest of the starting lineup.
#7: Stephen Curry (@ Suns)
Game Stats: 50 PTS | 9 REB | 6 AST | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 17/28 FG | 7/11 3PT | 9/9 FT
Vintage Stephen Curry. There's no great way to put it, but when Curry is feeling it, he's really feeling it. He made that very clear in Phoenix, dropping one of only five 50-point performances by any player this season, and the 11th of his career. He was white-hot from beyond the arc, and facilitated well as usual. He couldn't will Golden State into overcoming their road woes, but he gave NBA fans a great show on national TV, reminding everyone once again why he's the greatest shooter to ever live.
#6: Stephen Curry (vs Kings)
Game Stats: 47 PTS | 8 REB | 8 AST | 0 TO | 17/24 FG | 7/12 3PT | 6/7 FT
Of course, Steph didn't have just one incredible game this season, as he earns back-to-back mentions on this list. Curry gets another nod for scoring 47 points and dropping eight dimes, while unbelievably not turning the ball over even a single time. On this occasion he was rewarded with a win too, as he captained the Warriors to a furious fourth quarter comeback, edging out the Kings, who wouldn't lose another game until two and a half weeks later. Enjoy Steph's game while it lasts, because we may never see anyone like him again in our lives.
#5: Luka Doncic (vs Trailblazers)
Game Stats: 42 PTS | 13 REB | 10 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 13/22 FG | 1/5 3PT | 15/18 FT
This game doesn't really need much of an explanation, as the numbers should speak for themselves, but Doncic's second appearance is another one of his patented 40-point triple-doubles, this time featuring improved shooting efficiency, and fewer turnovers compared to the last one we checked out. Luka's fellow starters combined for just 30 points, but he still managed to outduel Portland's Jerami Grant (37 points) to pick up a win for his Mavs.
#4: Anthony Davis (@ Suns)
Game Stats: 37 PTS | 21 REB | 2 AST | 5 STL | 5 BLK | 6 TO | 11/17 FG | 15/16 FT
Anthony Davis was utterly dominant in every aspect of the game for 38 minutes in Phoenix, with arguably the most well-rounded stat line of the season. Some may try to disparage this performance by bringing up the turnovers, but that couldn't possibly matter any less than in the first NBA game in history to feature a player with 35+ points, 20+ rebounds, 5+ steals, and 5+ blocks. Davis' all-around excellence was slightly overshadowed by the heated matchup ended with a Lakers loss to the Suns, but this was a statement game. AD put the league on notice, making sure his name was placed among the top rungs on MVP ladders everywhere.
#3: Devin Booker (vs Bulls)
Game Stats: 51 PTS | 4 REB | 6 AST | 1 STL | 2 TO | 20/25 FG | 6/7 3PT | 5/6 FT
20/25 from the field. Of all the wild statistics to appear on this list, that may be the one that gets the least recognition for being as incredible as it is. To make 80% of your shots in an NBA game is remarkable. To score 51 points in the process is ridiculous. All that said, and I haven't even mentioned that Booker's Suns were so dominant that he rested for the entire fourth quarter. Had he played much more than 31 minutes in this game there would be no doubt that he could break his career mark of 70. Instead, he'll just have to settle for the third-best total of his career, and one of the most efficient shooting nights anyone will ever see.
#2: Anthony Davis (@ Wizards)
Game Stats: 55 PTS | 17 REB | 1 AST | 3 BLK | 2 TO | 22/30 FG | 2/3 3PT | 9/9 FT
If his performance in Phoenix wasn't enough to earn Anthony Davis MVP consideration, he followed it up with this gem just a couple weeks later. Davis' 55 points were the second most of any player this season, and just four points off of his career high. He shot the ball at nearly a 75% clip, rarely turned the ball over, and owned the glass once again. Davis led the Lakers to their 10th victory of the season, all of which have been hard-fought. Davis' second statement performances of the season should be cemented as one of the best of the campaign.
#1: Joel Embiid (vs Jazz)
Game Stats: 59 PTS | 11 REB | 8 AST | 1 STL | 7 BLK | 5 TO | 19/28 FG | 1/5 3PT | 20/24 FT
Joel Embiid's performance against Utah should go down not only as the greatest this season, but one of the greatest in NBA history. Embiid outscored the Jazz starting lineup by a full 16 points, was two assists away from a triple double, and recorded the second highest single-game block total this season. If you're looking at the free throw total negatively, don't. Embiid shot so many free throws because there was nobody on the court that could stop him. If this statline was shown to any NBA fan without context, the vast majority would assume it was put up by superhuman NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain. Remember this performance, because you won't see many that top it.
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