January was unlike almost any other in NBA history.

On the 18th anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game for the Los Angeles Lakers, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves put on a historic offensive show with a pair of career-high, franchise-record scoring performances on Jan. 22.

Embiid scored 70 points to set the 76ers record in Philadelphia’s 133-123 win over San Antonio. Towns totaled 62 points, but it wasn’t enough in Minnesota’s 128-125 home loss to Charlotte.

But wait, the scoring outbursts weren’t finished.

Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks and Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns went on another scoring spree on Jan. 26.

Dončić broke his Dallas franchise record by scoring 73 points in a 148-143 win in Atlanta, and Booker dropped 62 on the Phoenix Suns to record his second-highest-scoring game in a 133-131 loss at Indiana.

So twice in the same week and for only the fifth time in NBA history, two players scored at least 60 points on the same night.
Catch a glimpse of those players and more in this month’s photo gallery, and let’s see what February brings.

(Brandon Dill / Associated Press)

Ja Morant of the Grizzlies goes for a ride after this slam against the Spurs in Memphis, Tenn.

(Rick Bowmer / Associated Press)

Hold on to those drinks! Kris Dunn of the Jazz and Jalen Duren of the Pistons battle for a loose ball as they fall out of bounds in Salt Lake City.

(Loren Elliott / Associated Press)

Steph Curry of the Warriors smirks at the Nuggets bench after draining a 3-pointer, but Denver had the last laugh as Nikola Jokić’s 39-foot banked-in shot stuns Golden State in San Francisco.

(AJ Mast / Associated Press)

He’s not Air Jordan, but Jaylen Brown of the Celtics imitates the former Bulls legend on a takeoff and breakaway dunk against the Pacers in Indianapolis.

(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

Drew Eubanks of the Suns and Duncan Robinson of the Heat tumble while battling for possession of the ball in Phoenix.

(Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press)

Coby White of the Bulls receives a bear hug from teammate DeMar DeRozan after White hit a 3-pointer against the Grizzlies in Chicago.

(Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)

This isn’t the greatest hug, but Isaiah Hartenstein of the Knicks smashes his face into Paolo Banchero of the Magic as they fight for possession of the ball in New York.

(John Bazemore / Associated Press)

Mo Bamba of the 76ers fights off multiple Hawks defenders as he drives to the basket in Atlanta.

(Ronald Cortes / Getty Images)

Blocking Giannis Antetokounmpo at the rim is a challenge, but 7-foot-4 rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs makes it look easy on this play in San Antonio against the Bucks star. There will be more from Wemby later.

(Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images)

LeBron James of the Lakers might be 39, but the old man can still soar. James elevates over Paul George and the Clippers for a dunk in Los Angeles.

(Benny Sieu / USA Today)

Kings head coach Mike Brown is restrained by his players, Malik Monk (left) and Trey Lyles, as Brown argues with referee Intae Hwang in the fourth quarter of a game against the Bucks in Milwaukee.

(Al Bello / Getty Images)

Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves skies high for a lob against Nic Claxton and the Nets in New York.

(Alonzo Adams / USA Today)

Chet Holmgren, the other “rookie,” has been a huge contributor to the Thunder’s success this season. Holmgren goes high to block this shot by Jayson Tatum of the Celtics in Oklahoma City.

(Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today)

Let’s stay with the block party. Reggie Jackson of the Nuggets swats this shot by Bennedict Mathurin of the Pacers in Indianapolis.

(Benny Sieu / USA Today)

It was Dame Time in Milwaukee as Damian Lillard’s 3-pointer at the buzzer lifts the Bucks over the Kings.

(Sarah Stier / Getty Images)

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks have a lot to shout about this season. New York is 31-17 and in third place in the Eastern Conference.

(Rob Gray / USA Today)

Andrew Nembhard of the Pacers gets a good, up-close look at the basketball against the Jazz in Salt Lake City.

(Stephen Gosling / Getty Images)

For many reasons, I’ve spent a lot of time looking at this image of Wembanyama of the Spurs dunking over Marvin Bagley III of the Wizards in Washington, D.C. It also should be noted that Bagley is listed at 6 foot 10.

(Wendell Cruz / USA Today)

MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder howls for a call (or help) as he struggles to maintain possession of the ball as Cam Thomas and Spencer Dinwiddie of the Nets surround, reach and grab in New York.

(Brad Rempel / USA Today)

The NBA is physical, so it’s nice to see Jaden McDaniels of the Timberwolves grab Leaky Black of the Hornets gently in Minneapolis.

(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

Kevon Looney of the Warriors is a crafty player, but he got caught this time. With one arm, the nine-year veteran grabs Jalen Duren of the Pistons and then with the other arm attempts to reach around Duren as he drives to the basket in San Francisco.

(Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today)

Devin Booker of the Suns attempts one of his 37 shots against the Pacers in Indianapolis. Booker scored 62 points, but Indiana prevailed against Phoenix.

(Adam Hagy / NBAE via Getty Images)

After smoking the Hawks for 73 points, Luka Dončić of the Mavericks waves to Atlanta fans.

(Brad Penner / USA Today)

I’m not sure if Precious Achiuwa of the Knicks got any ball, but he got plenty of Nic Claxton of the Nets on this hard foul in New York.

Parting shot

(Scott Wachter / USA Today)

To be an NBA mascot, many skills are needed. The Coyote, the San Antonio Spurs mascot, catches a bat during the first half of a game against the Timberwolves in San Antonio. Now that’s talent!