It was only fitting that, on the same day Kobe Bryant was memorialized in Los Angeles, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal achieved a scoring feat not seen since the former Lakers star was lighting up defenses more than a decade ago.
Beal erupted for 55 points in Monday’s overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Following his 53-point outburst in another defeat, to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, it marked the second time Beal set his career high in as many games.
“Oh man, that’s crazy,” Beal said after the game. “Didn’t know that. That’s who Kobe was. That was his drive and that ceremony today just brought the feeling, the tears all back again.”
In doing so, Beal became the first NBA player to score 50-plus points on consecutive nights since Bryant back in 2007. He is also just the sixth NBA player to ever achieve such a feat, joining Wilt Chamberlain (multiple), Elgin Baylor (1962), Bernard King (1984), Michael Jordan (1987) and Bryant.
“I was just locked in and I just was having fun,” said Beal, the first player in franchise history to have back-to-back 50-point games. “Probably the most fun game I’ve ever played in.”
"I feel like the impact that you leave on others and your teammates and everybody around you is what's most important."
– @RealDealBeal23 on being the first player since Kobe to score 50+ on consecutive nights 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/Xlq0rUgEYz
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) February 25, 2020
Unfortunately for Beal, it marks the first of those instances where both games were losses.
Beal’s second straight 50-point outburst bumped his scoring average up by a full half point to 30.1 per game, second in the NBA behind James Harden (35.3).
In the loss, Beal (4,071) passed Gus Johnson and Phil Chenier (tied with 4,057) for fourth place all-time in field goals made for the franchise. He has nine games of 40 or more points, tied with Gilbert Arenas for fourth-place all-time for the franchise.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
