Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a franchise-record 64 factors because the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers 140-126 in a sport soured by a post-match fracas.
Antetokounmpo, 29, broke the file of 57 factors set by Michael Redd in 2006 and added 14 rebounds.
The Greek celebrity was concerned in a post-match melee as he tried to retrieve the sport ball from the Pacers.
The Bucks sit second within the Japanese Convention.
It was the second time the Bucks and the Pacers had met this month, with Indiana selecting up a 128-119 victory on the semi-final stage of the in-season match on 7 December.
Tensions boiled over throughout the fourth quarter on Wednesday when Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith wrapped his arm round Antetokounmpo’s neck as he drove for the basket. An extra flare-up got here after the ultimate buzzer when the Greek raced off the court docket to confront members of the Pacers staff.
Antetokounmpo returned to the court docket to remonstrate with Tyrese Haliburton. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle later stated the incident was triggered by a misunderstanding concerning the sport ball, which had been handed to rookie Oscar Tshiebwe for scoring his first NBA level off the bench.
“We weren’t occupied with Giannis’ franchise file so we grabbed the ball and a few minutes later a number of of their gamers ended up in our hallway,” Carlisle stated.
“There was an enormous fracas, melee no matter. I do not suppose any punches landed however our normal supervisor acquired an elbow within the ribs from considered one of their gamers.
“Unlucky state of affairs. It did not have to escalate to that.
“Third time we have performed these guys previously two to a few weeks so issues are heated and I perceive all that. However for it to return into the hallway… it did not have to occur that method.”
Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Lakers held off a late rally from French star Victor Wembanyama to beat the San Antonio Spurs 122-119.
Anthony Davis top-scored for the Lakers with 37 factors, with Wembanyama scoring 30 because the Spurs fell to a franchise record-extending 18th straight defeat.
Joel Embiid placed on 41 factors with 11 rebounds to information the Philadelphia 76ers to a 129-111 victory and consign the Detroit Pistons to a twenty first straight defeat – matching the longest dropping streak within the historical past of the franchise.
The Phoenix Suns had their ‘massive three’ of Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant taking part in collectively for the primary time this season, however they nonetheless fell to a 116-112 loss by the hands of the Brooklyn Nets.
Booker registered 34 factors, 12 assists and 6 rebounds because the Suns tasted defeat for the fifth time in seven video games, whereas Durant placed on 27 factors in his first sport towards the Nets since being traded to the Suns in February.