After a trade that sent him from Los Angeles to Detroit, All-Star power forward Blake Griffin is operating in relative obscurity. Of course, NBA die-hards recognize that the veteran still has plenty of gas left in the tank but, in the grand scheme, Griffin’s star seems to be fading from where it was at an earlier point in his career.
However, the early returns on the 2018-19 season have been strong for Griffin, as he entered Tuesday evening’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers averaging 29.5 points and 10 rebounds per game. Then, the now 29 year old took things to a new level against Joel Embiid and company, exploding for a career-best 50 points (on 20-for-35 shooting and 5-for-10 from three), 14 rebounds, and six assists.
In addition to Griffin’s wild production, he produced the highlight of the night in putting Embiid on a poster.
So Blake just did this … #PistonsNow pic.twitter.com/d8DYZwJqyM
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 24, 2018
From there, the versatile scorer unleashed his full arsenal of offensive maneuvers to create relatively easy buckets.
Skill + strength by Blake. #PistonsNow
Watch on @FOXSportsDet pic.twitter.com/9YBxzbi4aW
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 24, 2018
Griffin, who has always been a strong finisher at the rim, pulled out his entire bag of tricks.
Blake back on the attack. #PistonsNow pic.twitter.com/VOZPHbln9e
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 24, 2018
And, for good measure, Griffin even played some quality defense and distributed to others after taking the attention of the defense.
https://twitter.com/DetroitPistons/status/1054908191228731392
Griffin did quite a bit of work in regulation and was the biggest reason that the Pistons were able to force overtime against the Sixers, even at home. However, not everything was easy in the extra frame, as J.J. Redick produced a four-point play in the final seconds to put Detroit in a hole.
JJ Redick. Cold blooded. https://t.co/fKAeSLPaDs
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) October 24, 2018
On cue, it was Griffin that saved the day for the Pistons, attacking the rim and finishing to tie the game, before later converting the free throw for his 50th point to secure a one-point victory.
Points 48 and 49 for Blake Griffin were pretty clutch. https://t.co/UK48PiqJAf
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) October 24, 2018
As Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated pointed out, Griffin’s big night eclipsed a few milestones. Included in his personal best, this marked the first time in more than a decade that someone in a Pistons uniform scored 50 points, and it was the first 50-point outing in the league this season.
Pistons' Blake Griffin w/ new-career high 50 points in OT win vs. Sixers.
– Previous: 47 for LAC vs. IND on 1/17/11.
– Most points by a Piston since Richard Hamilton had 51 vs. NYK on 12/27/06.
– 6th player in DET history to score 50.
– NBA's first 50-point game of 2018-19. pic.twitter.com/rvAXRHOo4s— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) October 24, 2018
There will be nights when Griffin isn’t the best player on the floor, which happens. Still, this was a trip in the wayback machine for the former No. 1 overall pick and it was a joy to watch him take apart an Eastern Conference contender to the tune of 50 points.