On This Date in Sports December 8, 1961: Showdown for the Ages
In collaboration with the Sportesecyclopedia.com
In perhaps the greatest one-on-one showdown in NBA history, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor combine for 141 points in a triple-overtime thriller at Philadelphia Arena. Chamberlain broke the single-game scoring record set by Baylor in 1960, scoring 78 points, while Baylor scored 63 points at the time was the fourth highest-scoring game in NBA history. The Philadelphia Warriors would lose the game 151-147 to the Los Angeles Lakers. Wilt Chamberlain added 61 points the following day as the Warriors beat the Chicago Packers 135-113.
Six weeks into the 1961/62 NBA season came one of the greatest showdowns in NBA history. It was Elgin Baylor of the Los Angeles Lakers and Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors. Baylor was the first player to reach 70 points in a game one year earlier, dropping 71 on the New York Knicks on November 15, 1960. Chamberlain was in the middle of a season in which he set a record with 50.4 points per game. Despite Chamberlain's stats, the Warriors were playing mediocre basketball at 13-10 for coach Frank McGuire, while the Lakers were off to a strong start at 19-7 for Fred Schaus.
Wilt Chamberlain got off to a strong start, was the Warriors led 34-25 at the end of the first quarter. Philadelphia maintained the nine-point lead in the second quarter, as they led 62-53 at the half. However, in the third quarter, the Lakers made their run outscoring the Warriors 32-21 to take the lead. The game was close throughout the fourth quarter as Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor continued to light up the scoreboard. At the end of regulation, the game was tied 109-109. After two overtimes, the game was not decided as both teams scored 12 points in both five-minute periods. The Lakers finally were able to get the win, outscoring Philadelphia 18-14 to win the game 151-147. Wilt Chamberlain had 25 points over the three overtime periods.
Wilt Chamberlain's Warriors did not win the game, but he set a single-game record with 78 points, breaking the record held by Elgin Baylor. Baylor, meanwhile, became the second player in NBA history to have two 60-point games, joining Chamberlain in that exclusive club. Wilt Chamberlain reached 78 points by playing the full 63 minutes, shooting 31 of 62 from the field and 16 of 31 from the free-throw line. He also added 43 rebounds. Elgin Baylor reached 63 points on 23 of 55 shooting while hitting 17 of 24 free throws. Baylor added 31 points, while Jerry West had a triple-double for the Lakers with 32 points, 11 boards, and ten assists.
Wilt Chamberlain would play the following day scoring 61 points against the Chicago Packers. In this game, the Warriors would win 135-113. The record 78 points would stand until March 2, 1962, when Wilt Chamberlain had his historic 100-point game. The 78-point game remained second all-time until 2006 when Kobe Bryant had 81 points against the Toronto Raptors.