Watch: Anthony Davis scores career-high 59 points with 20 rebounds

Anthony Davis scored a career-high 59 points and added 20 rebounds in a historic performance against the Detroit Pistons.

Kenny Ducey | Feb 21, 2016

Watch: Anthony Davis scores career-high 59 points with 20 rebounds /

Anthony Davis pieced together the most remarkable performance of his young NBA career on Sunday, shattering his career-high in points with 59, gathering 20 rebounds and adding four assists in a 111–104 win over the Pistons.

In the past 30 years, the only comparable performance is Shaquille O’Neal’s 61-point, 23-rebound performance against the Clippers in 2000. Davis’s 59 points are also an NBA season high, and the most that have been scored in a game since March 2014, when LeBron James dropped 61.

“I just go out there and play,” Davis told Fox Sports New Orleans after the game. “The guys on the bench were telling me, go out there and get 60 ... I just came out with a lot of energy.”

• JENKINS: How Anthony Davis emerged as the NBA’s latest phenom

Anthony Davis in 43 minutes: 59 points & 20 rebounds
All of his Pelicans teammates combined in 197 minutes: 52 points & 31 rebounds
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 21, 2016

Davis set the franchise record for points in a game, field goals made and attempted.

Photos: Davis joins the NBA’s active 50-point scorers

The NBA’s Active 50-Point Scorers

Jimmy Butler

52 vs Charlotte (Jan. 2, 2017), 53 vs Philadelphia (Jan. 14, 2016)

James Harden

53 vs. New York (Dec. 31, 2016), 51 vs Sacramento (April 1, 2015), 50 vs Denver (March, 19, 2015)

Isaiah Thomas

52 vs. Miami (Dec. 30, 2016)

John Wall

52 vs. Orlando (Dec. 6, 2016)

Russell Westbrook

51 vs Phoenix (Oct. 28, 2016), 54 vs Indiana (April 12, 2015)

Anthony Davis

50 vs New Orleans (Oct. 26, 2016), 59 vs Detroit (Feb. 21, 2016)

Damian Lillard

Todd Korol/Toronto Star via Getty Images

50 vs Toronto (March 4, 2016), 51 vs Golden State (Feb. 19, 2016)

Stephen Curry

51 vs Orlando (Feb. 25, 2016), 51 vs Washington (Feb. 6, 2016), 53 vs New Orleans (Oct. 31, 2015), 51 vs Dallas (Feb. 4, 2015), 54 vs New York (Feb. 27, 2013)

DeMarcus Cousins

55 vs Portland (Dec. 20, 2016), 56 vs Charlotte (Jan. 25, 2016)

Kemba Walker

52 vs Utah (Jan. 18, 2016)

Kyrie Irving

57 vs San Antonio (March 12, 2015), 55 vs Portland (Jan. 28, 2015)

Klay Thompson

60 vs Indiana (Dec. 5, 2016), 52 vs Sacramento (Jan. 23, 2015)

Corey Brewer

51 vs Houston (April 11, 2014)

Kevin Durant

51 vs Toronto (March 21, 2014), 54 vs Golden State (Jan. 17, 2014), 52 vs Dallas (Jan. 18, 2013), 51 vs Denver (Feb. 19, 2012)

LeBron James

61 vs. Charlotte (March 3, 2014), 51 vs Orlando (Feb. 3, 2011), 51 vs Sacramento (March 13, 2009), 55 vs Milwaukee (Feb. 20, 2009), 52 vs New York (Feb. 4, 2009), 50 vs New York (March 5, 2008), 51 vs Memphis (Jan. 15, 2008), 51 vs Utah (Jan. 21, 2006), 52 vs Milwaukee (Dec. 10, 2005), 56 vs Toronto (March 20, 2005)

Terrence Ross

51 vs L.A. Clippers (Jan. 25, 2014)

Carmelo Anthony

62 vs Charlotte (Jan. 24, 2014), 50 vs. Miami (April 2, 2013), 50 vs Houston (Feb. 7, 2011), 50 vs New York (Nov. 27, 2009)

Kevin Love

51 vs Oklahoma City (March 23, 2012)

Deron Williams

57 vs Charlotte (March 4, 2012)

Brandon Jennings

55 vs Golden State (Nov. 14, 2009)

Dwyane Wade

55 vs New York (April 12, 2009), 50 vs Utah (March 14, 2009), 50 vs Orlando (Feb. 22, 2009)

Jamal Crawford

50 vs Charlotte (Dec. 20, 2008), 52 vs Miami (Jan. 26, 2007), 50 vs Toronto (April 11, 2004)

Tony Parker

55 vs Minnesota (Nov. 5, 2008)

Dirk Nowitzki

50 vs Phoenix (June 1, 2006), 51 vs Golden State (March 23, 2006), 53 vs Houston (Dec. 2, 2004)

Paul Pierce

50 vs Cleveland (Feb. 15, 2006)

Vince Carter

51 vs Miami (Dec. 23, 2005), 51 vs Phoenix (Feb. 27, 2000)

After the game, Davis’s teammates doused him in water.

The SI Extra Newsletter Get the best of Sports Illustrated delivered right to your inbox

The Pelicans picked up just their seventh road win of the season, and improved to 22–23 overall. They trail the eighth-place Rockets by five in the loss column.

Published Feb 21, 2016

KENNY DUCEY

Kenny Ducey writes baseball, basketball and off-beat stories for SI.com. He is a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, and an editor at Baseball Prospectus.