Individual performances propelling unreal stretch in the NBA

There were an astounding 27 instances of players scoring 40 or more points from Dec. 23, 2022 to Jan. 2, 2023, the most in a 10-day stretch of games in NBA history. On three separate days — Dec. 23, Dec. 30 and Jan. 2 — five players scored at least 40 points.

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Haliburton, R.J. Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic each scored over 40 points on Dec. 23. A week later, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zach Lavine, LeBron James, Jordan Poole and C.J. McCollum all scored at least 40 points.

There were five more 40-point performances on Jan. 2, including a stunning 71-point effort from Donovan Mitchell.

That was the most points anyone scored during the stretch, and the most in a single game since Kobe Bryant's 81-point performance against Toronto on Jan. 22, 2006. 

Luka Doncic scored 60 points on Dec. 27 against the Knicks in one of the best individual performances in recent regular season history. He finished that game by recording the only 60-point, 20-rebound game in NBA history. Of the five 50-point games during the 10-day stretch, Doncic has three of them.

 This amazing string of individual performances by so many has led the MVP race to be as wide open as it's been in years. Per Oddschecker, Doncic is the current favorite at +280 but he isn't a runaway favorite by any stretch of the imagination. Right behind him is Antetokounmpo (+400), Jayson Tatum (+425) and Nikola Jokic (+500).

The lack of clarity in the MVP race extends to the hunt for an NBA championship. Oddschecker has Boston with the best odds at +400, with the Bucks (+650), Nets (+700), Warriors and Clippers (+1000) directly behind the Celtics.

We're headed for an exciting, unpredictable second half of the season. As phenomenal as the recent 10-game run was, the best is yet to come.