When the basketball intelligentsia crowned Anthony Davis (however prematurely) as the NEXT BIG THING, this is exactly what they were anticipating. The Detroit Pistons simply had no answer for the The Brow Sunday afternoon at the Palace of Auburn Hills, where he set a new arena record with a mind-boggling 59-point, 20-rebound outing in a 111-106 win.
He’s just the third player since the 1963-64 season with at least 50 points and 20 rebounds. That list includes Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Webber. Speaking of Shaq, he’s the first player since The Big Diesel in 2000 with at least 59 points and 20 rebounds in a contest.
Davis showed off the entire repertoire against the Pistons, scoring points in every conceivable manner, whether that included dunks, post moves, step-back jumpers, or three-pointers.
He became the second youngest player behind Bob McAdoo with 50 points and 20 rebounds, and his 59 total points shattered Jamal Mashburn’s franchise record of 50 points that he set back during the old Hornets days in 2003. Here he is tying Washburn on this bucket from the elbow:
And while Shaq scored two more points than Brow and snagged three more rebounds, Davis was more efficient from the field despite taking a pair of three-pointers (70.6 percent shooting from the field vs. 68.6).
Davis was absolutely on fire throughout the Sunday afternoon showcase, so hot in fact that his teammates had to help cool him off during his post-game interview.
