Seventy-three points. Forty-two years to this day, David Thompson cemented his legacy as an all-time Nuggets great by posting that output in a 139-137 loss to the Detroit Pistons on April 9, 1978. It’s an accomplishment so otherworldly, he is one of only three players to score 73 points or more in a game, with the others being Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant.
Thompson’s historic night was sparked by a race for the scoring title with fellow NBA legend George Gervin, who played for the San Antonio Spurs. It was the final game of the season for the Nuggets and head coach Larry Brown, a Hall-of-Famer, gave Thompson the green light to fire as many shots as he needed to take home the crown.