Beast Mode: 5 best single-game performances of the NBA season
Few sports allow their stars to shine as bright as they can on the hardwood. These players went beast mode on their opponents for one of the best single-game performances of the NBA season.
Jimmy Butler
Game: Jan. 14 - CHI 115, PHI 111 (OT)
Stat line: 53 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 21-25 free throws
Butler poured in a career-high 53 points in an overtime victory over the 76ers, hitting on 15 of 30 field-goal attempts. The performance made him the first Bull to score 50 points in a game since Jamal Crawford in 2004.
Damian Lillard
Game: Feb. 19 - POR 137, GS 105
Stat line: 51 points, 7 assists, 6 steals, 9 3-pointers
The Warriors weren't handed many losses this season, but one of those can be directly attributed to Lillard, who went toe-to-toe with the best player at his position and won, dropping a career-high 51 points on his hometown team. The Trail Blazers' 137 points are the most allowed by Golden State this season.
Anthony Davis
Game: Feb. 21 - NO 111, DET 106
Stat line: 59 points, 20 rebounds, 4 assists, block, 24-34 shooting
On the 13-year anniversary of Jamal Mashburn's franchise-best 50-point performance, Davis upped the ante with 59 points of his own against the Pistons, adding 20 boards. Davis also eclipsed the stadium scoring record set by LeBron James in the 2007 Eastern Conference finals (48).
Kyle Lowry
Game: Feb. 26 - TOR 99, CLE 97
Stat line: 43 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 15-20 shooting
With hopes of making it out of the Eastern Conference, the Raptors sent a significant shot across the bow in a thrilling victory over the Cavaliers in late February, thanks in no small part to Lowry, who connected on three-quarters of his shots from the field, including a game-winning step-back.
Stephen Curry
Game: Feb. 27 - GS 121, OKC 118 (OT)
Stat line: 46 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 12 3-pointers
There's no shortage of monster games from Curry this season, but his performance against the Thunder stands out from the rest. He knocked down 12 3-pointers, tying the NBA single-game record, capped off by a 38-footer with 0.6 seconds remaining in overtime to win the game for the Warriors.