Europeans with the most points in a single NBA game / News - Basketnews.com

Following incredible Luka Doncic's performance, BasketNews highlights the Top 5 highest scoring single-game performances by European players.

Credit: Reuters, AP, USA Today Sports-Scanpix Credit Reuters, AP, USA Today Sports-Scanpix

Among many records that Luka Doncic set in the win over the New York Knicks, he also became the record holder for most points scored in a single NBA game among European players.

The Dallas Mavericks superstar finished the game with 60 points (19/25 2PT, 2/6 3PT, 16/22 FT), 21 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming the first player to record a 60/20/10 stat line.

Following incredible Doncic's performance, BasketNews highlights the Top 5 highest scoring single-game performances by European players.

5. Luka Doncic and Dirk Nowitzki – 51 points

Dallas Mavericks European duo starts the list, posting 51 points each. Nowitzki has done it on March 24, 2006, against the Golden State Warriors.

In a 121-122 loss, Nowitzki finished the game with 51 points (13/20 2PT, 3/4 3PT, 16/17 FT), 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

"The numbers don't mean anything in a loss," Nowitzki said back then. "Whether I score five points or 60, a loss is still a loss."

Meanwhile, Doncic's 51-point game wasn't that long ago. He reached this mark in February in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Slovenian star had 51 points (10/12 2PT, 7/14 3PT, 10/14 FT), 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, leading the Mavericks to a 112-105 win.

Doncic already had 28 points after the first quarter but slowed down a bit. It was also the first Mavericks game since the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

"Well, tonight was just Luka," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. "That little step-back 3, I'll live with that. That's his shot, but if he misses a couple or few of those, then the game is different. But he made them, and that's why he's a great player."

Luka, in fact, loves playing the Clippers, as he averages 32.6 points against them in 26 career games [including the playoffs] against them.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 52 points

It might sound incredible, but 52 points Giannis scored back in 2019 remains his career-high.

On March 17, 2019, Antetokounmpo finished the game with 52 points (12/18 2PT, 3/8 3PT, 19/21 FT), 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in a 125-130 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.

"He carried us for most of that game but not all of it," Khris Middleton said back then. "He wreaked havoc in the paint. He got his 3-ball going early. He got into a great rhythm. He was special tonight. Unfortunately, we just didn't get the win for him on a career night."

Antetokounmpo has four 50+ points games in his career, including the 50-point performance in the 2021 NBA Finals Game 6 against the Phoenix Suns.

3. Dirk Nowitzki – 53 points

We meet Dirk once again. This time, on December 8, 2004, he scored his career-high 53 points (13/27 2PT, 2/5 3PT, 21/22 FT), adding 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 4 blocks in a 113-106 overtime win against the Houston Rockets.

The game is also memorable because Tracy McGrady put on a show of his own, scoring 48 points (13/23 2PT, 6/13 3PT, 4/7 FT), adding 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.

Back then, Dirk became the record holder for most points scored in a single NBA game by a European player.

The 2004-05 season was one of the best career seasons for Dirk stat-wise. The German legend averaged 26.1 points (2nd best), 9.7 rebounds (3rd best), and 3.1 assists (3rd best) per game in 78 contests.

2. Tony Parker – 55 points

On November 6, 2008, Tony Parker shot the lights out, scoring 55 points (20/33 2PT, 2/3 3PT, 9/10 FT) in a 129-125 double-overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The French guard also added 10 assists and 7 rebounds, scoring 9 points in the second overtime.

"I just wanted to win so bad. I was going to try to do everything I can," said Parker, whose previous best was a 38-point effort in January 2006 at Miami. "It's just one of those games. Everything you do, it works. Obviously, everybody knows if I make my jump shots, I can do whatever I want. Tonight was just one of those games that everything was working."

Parker's 55 points that night registered as the highest-scoring game by a Spur since David Robinson in 1994 set the franchise record with 71 points.

Back then, the last player to have at least 55 points and 10 assists in a game was Michael Jordan. He had 57 points and 10 assists against the Wizards on December 23, 1992.

It was also the best performance by a Spur up until January 2019, when LaMarcus Aldridge poured in 56 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"I saw it in his eyes, man. I could tell," said teammate Roger Mason, who had 26 points. "He was in that zone like they say. He kept his foot on the pedal and just kept going and going and going. When a guy's like that, who knows?"

1. Luka Doncic – 60 points

Of course, the hero who inspired us to write this article. It's up to you to debate what's more incredible – Doncic's performance or how he forced overtime and led the Mavericks to an eventual win against the Knicks.

With just 33.9 seconds remaining, Dallas trailed by 9 points. Doncic scored 10 points in the final 2:38 of regulation, including the last three in a wild sequence to force overtime.

New York sent Doncic to the free-throw line, leading 115-112 with 4.2 seconds remaining. Doncic made the first free throw, then -- after intentionally missing the second -- chased down the offensive rebound and made a buzzer-beater to tie the score at 115.

NBA teams were 0-13,884 in the last 20 seasons when trailing by at least nine with 35 or fewer seconds remaining, according to ESPN Stats and Info.

"We sit here every night, and we're lucky," Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. "We can't take him for granted. Again, people get their money's worth when they come to watch him play. He puts on a show.

Meanwhile, Doncic himself had one simple wish after the game.

"I'm tired as hell. I need a recovery beer," Doncic told the sideline reporter.

If anything, he deserves at least one. After all, Luka Doncic just made history.

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