High-scoring NBA outings by Duke basketball alums are becoming commonplace.
Given Jayson Tatum’s epic performance for the Boston Celtics on Friday night — more on that here later — it’s time to take a look at the top 10 single-game scoring totals from Duke basketball players in NBA history.
As for ties between former Blue Devils along the way here, the edge goes to whoever was younger at the time of the feat. Now, from No. 10 to No. 1, let’s get started…
10. Duke basketball product Grant Hill scores 46 for the Pistons
- Date: Feb. 8, 1999
- Venue: The Palace of Auburn Hills (Detroit)
- Game result: The Detroit Pistons beat the Washington Wizards, 106-103
- Number of times in NBA history a player has scored 46 points or more: 1,177
This took place during the versatile forward’s fifth pro season after going No. 3 overall at the 1994 NBA Draft following his four years in Durham. A 26-year-old Grant Hill totaled 46 points against the Wizards while shooting 14-for-21 from the field and 18-for-22 from the charity stripe. He didn’t attempt a 3-pointer.
Hill also finished with seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals, two blocks, and four turnovers in 43 minutes on the court that day.
Across that lockout-shortened regular season, the two-time Duke basketball national champion (1991, 1992) and eventual seven-time All-Star averaged 21.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.0 assists for a Pistons squad that went 29-21 and then lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.