The NBA regular season is a time when players and teams have the chance to make a name for themselves. It’s a time when underdogs can rise to the top and when stars can cement their legacies. Every season is filled with unforgettable moments that stick with basketball fans for years to come.
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The 2022-2023 NBA regular season has been no exception. From buzzer-beating shots to record-breaking performances, there have been plenty of moments that have captivated audiences and kept them on the edge of their seats. With the NBA Playoffs just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to reflect back on the 10 best moments of the 2022-23 NBA regular season.
#10 – Harden’s Posts Triple-Double with 21 Assists
James Harden had his playmaking abilities on full display in a December game against the Clippers, as the 76ers guard posted a triple-double that included a franchise record for assists. It was a career night for the bearded baller, as Harden put up 20 points, 11 rebounds and a staggering 21 assists in this impressive regular season performance.
#9 – Zubac Goes Off Against Pacers
The Pacers couldn’t do much to stop Clippers’ big man Ivica Zubac when the two teams faced off in late November, as the 7-foot Croatian dominated on the floor to the tune of 31 points and 29 rebounds. This marked just the third time since the 73-74 NBA season that a player put up at least 31 points, 29 rebounds and 3 blocks in a game.
#8 – Tatum Breaks NBA ASG Scoring Record
This season’s NBA All-Star Game featured an incredible performance from Jayson Tatum, as the Celtics superstar scored 55 points and led Team Giannis to a 184-175 win over Team LeBron. By doing so, Tatum set the record for most points scored in an All-Star Game and was an easy choice for the game’s MVP award.
#7 – Ja Morant Tomahawk Jam
No list of the best NBA moments would be complete without at least one game-changing dunk. While there were tons of great dunks to consider, none of them had the ferocity and aggression of this jam by Ja Morant in a game versus the Pacers. Starting just outside the three-point line, the Grizzlies star drove to the rack and threw down a vicious tomahawk dunk that left fans speechless!
#6 – Trailblazers Beat Timberwolves as 19.5-Point Underdogs
Part of the reason betting on NBA basketball is so fun is because you can never be sure of what will happen on any given night. Just take a look at this late season game between the Blazers and Twolves… Portland pulled out the shocking win despite being 19.5-point underdogs, marking the largest NBA upset of the past 30 years!
#5 – Joker Makes History with Massive Triple-Double
The two-time reigning NBA MVP pulled out his entire bag of tricks in this mind-blowing performance against the Charlotte Hornets, as the Nuggets superstar put up 40 points, 27 rebounds and 10 assists. This incredible stat line put Jokic among elite company, becoming only the third player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists in a game.
#4 – Donovan Mitchell Scores 71-Points in Overtime Win
Acquired over the offseason by the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell didn’t take long to make his presence felt in Cleveland. The talented shooting guard went off against the Bulls, leading his team to an overtime win with an astonishing 71-point showing. Mitchell scored or assisted on 99 points in the game, which is the second-most in NBA history and the most since Wilt Chamberlain’s iconic 100-point game.
#3 – Lillard Puts up 71 Points with 13 3-Pointers
It was ‘Dame Time’ all night long during this game between the Trailblazers and Rockets, as Damian Lillard scored a career-high 71 points. The Portland legend went 13 of 22 from beyond the arc in the game, leaving him just one shy of the NBA record. At 32 years of age, Lillard became the oldest player in NBA history to record a 70-point game.
#2 – Fox Hits Buzzer-Beating Game Winner from Half-Court
Kings guard De’Aaron Fox had tons of great moments this season for Sacramento, but this buzzer-beater back in November takes the cake. With the game tied in overtime and only six seconds left on the clock, Fox dribbled the ball up the court and released a shot from the logo that hit nothing but net. The clock reached double-zeroes just as the shot went in, giving basketball fans one of the greatest buzzer-beaters of all-time!
#1 – King James Breaks NBA’s All-Time Scoring Record
Top spot on this list should come as no surprise, as this regular season saw Lakers superstar LeBron James break the NBA’s all-time career scoring record. With a 14-foot fadeaway jumper late in the third quarter versus the OKC Thunder, LeBron surpassed the all-time mark of 38,387 career points that was held by NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for more than 38 years. The game came to a complete halt as fans and players alike took a moment to pay tribute to this incredible accomplishment.
