Cities scored 60 issues within the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 149-139 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.
Including 17 rebounds to his evening, the 26-year-old joined esteemed corporate — along Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, James Harden and Wilt Chamberlain — in changing into the one gamers in NBA historical past to complete a sport with 60 issues and 15 rebounds.
He completed with 19-for-31 general taking pictures and was once 7-for-11 on three-pointers. His 60 issues could also be a Minnesota franchise report, in addition to a career-high for Cities, surpassing his earlier report of 56.
The Timberwolves are embroiled in a scorching playoff race within the Western Convention, and Cities mentioned he understood the significance of the sport previously, one thing he expressed to go trainer Chris Finch.
“I advised Trainer (Finch) sooner than the sport: ‘Good day concentrate, we’d like this win. I will do no matter it takes,'” Cities mentioned. “‘If I want to play 44, 48 mins, I will get it carried out.’ That was once roughly the mindset I got here in (with). I needed to dominate. I needed to be my perfect.”
The win leaves Minnesota 1.5 video games at the back of the Denver Nuggets for 6th position within the Western Convention playoff standings.
Cities’ scoring outburst got here on a night of huge rankings across the league.
Two-time MVP Steph Curry scored 47 issues within the Golden State Warriors’ 126-112 win over the Washington Wizards, whilst Trae Younger completed with 46 issues within the Atlanta Hawks’ 122-113 win over the Portland Path Blazers.
Curry’s 47 issues got here on his thirty fourth birthday, the fourth maximum issues by means of a participant on their birthday in NBA historical past at the back of Shaquille O’Neal (61 on his twenty eighth birthday), Dominique Wilkins (53 on his twenty seventh birthday) and LeBron James (48 on his twenty fifth birthday).
