Detroit Pistons guard Saddiq Bey became the eighth player to record a 50-point game in the month of March, finishing with a career-high 51 points in his team's 134-120 win over the Orlando Magic.
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Bey's 51-point outing means that a 60-year old NBA record for most 50-point games in one month could be in jeopardy.
In December 1962, there were nine 50-point games recorded, meaning that, with two weeks left in March, we might see this record fall before April ticks over.
🚨 𝟓𝟏-🍔 🚨@SaddiqBey | @DetroitPistons pic.twitter.com/gmekvc36xi
— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) March 18, 2022
Incidentally, of those nine in 1962, six were by Wilt Chamberlain, then playing for the San Francisco Warriors, and the other three belonged to Elgin Baylor of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bey's 51 is just the latest eruption in March that began with LeBron James' 56 points against the Warriors on Mar. 5.
Of the eight 50-point games this month, six of the players who accomplished them needed less than 40 minutes to get there (with Jayson Tatum’s effort requiring 41 minutes). Bey played 39 minutes vs. Orlando.
Bey also tied the franchise record with 10 3-pointers made in 14 attempts.
Only two players in NBA history have finished with a stat line of at least 50 points, 10 rebounds and 10 3-pointers made: Bey and Damian Lillard.
Players with 50+ points, 10+ rebounds, 10+ threes in a game:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 18, 2022
Damian Lillard
Saddiq Bey
End of list. pic.twitter.com/thXovxbjDI
The 51 points are tied for fifth-most in Detroit franchise history. The team record is 57 points by Jerry Stackhouse in 2001.
"It was a good battle with my brothers, it was a great crowd and we gotta build on it," Bey said postgame.
Unfortunately for the Magic, Bey's explosion marks the second consecutive game that a player has erupted for at least 50 on them following Kyrie Irving's 60-point showing on Mar. 15.
Most points in a game this season
The 13 different 50-point scorers tie the record for the most ever in a single season. Back in 2018-19, 13 different players had a 50-point game.
| Date | Player | Points |
| Mar. 15 | Kyrie Irving | 60 |
| Mar. 14 | Karl-Anthony Towns | 60 |
| Mar. 5 | LeBron James | 56 |
| Jan. 3 | Trae Young | 56 |
| Mar. 6 | Jayson Tatum | 54 |
| Mar. 13 | Kevin Durant | 53 |
| Feb. 28 | Ja Morant | 52 |
| Feb. 17 | Saddiq Bey | 51 |
| Feb. 10 | Luka Doncic | 51 |
| Jan. 23 | Jayson Tatum | 51 |
| Dec. 12 | Kevin Durant | 51 |
| Mar. 11 | LeBron James | 50 |
| Mar. 8 | Kyrie Irving | 50 |
| Feb. 15 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 50 |
| Jan. 19 | Joel Embiid | 50 |
| Jan. 2 | Jaylen Brown | 50 |
| Nov. 8 | Stephen Curry | 50 |