It was the kind of offensive explosion that comes along in the NBA once in a generation.
The Clippers and Kings—both contenders in a tightly packed Western Conference race—fought for 58 minutes Friday night in a in two overtimes. It was the second highest-scoring game in the history of the league, trailing only a 186–184 Pistons win over the Nuggets on Dec. 13, 1983.
Despite its anomalous nature, however, the game was indicative of a steady increase in scoring that has crept into basketball in recent years. Teams are averaging 114.5 points per game in 2023, a 53-year high and a 16.4-point-per-game increase from 10 years ago.
