Ben Simmons has broken the record for most points by an Australian in an NBA game, but his 42-point haul came in a losing cause.
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Simmons' stunning feat came as his Philadelphia 76ers went down to the Utah Jazz, 134-123.
Simmons' haul ecplises the previous best by an Australian in the NBA - the 37-points scored by Aron Baynes for Phoenix last season.
Simmons was the nominal centre in a small lineup and the Australian responded to the challenge, going on a first-quarter rampage which reaped 19 points - his best haul in a quarter - as the Sixers took a 42-35 lead.
The 24-year-old eventually finished with 12 assists and nine boards to go with his 42 points on 15 of 26 shooting, and an impressive 12 of 13 from the free throw line.
"Honestly, I've been working on my mentality and my mental (approach) a lot these past few weeks," Simmons said of his newfound scoring prowess.
"It's not easy to do that, change the way you play.
"Certain things in the game come natural to certain people.
"I feel like I'm figuring it out."
It was the first 40-point double-double, with assists, by a Sixer since Allen Iverson did it in 2006.
Simmons joins Iverson, Hal Greer and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in franchise history to complete the feat.
The Jazz, however, were not be denied.
Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 40 points while Donovan Mitchell contributed 24 points.
Simmons' Boomers teammate Joe Ingles also had a big game for the Jazz, scoring 20 points, to go with three rebounds and five assists, and later played tribute to Clarkson.
"I've never played with anyone like JC in my lifetime," said Ingles.
"It's pretty cool to play with someone that's so locked into what his role is and so comfortable in the role."
In New York, Julius Randle scored a season-high 44 points, making a career-best seven 3-pointers to lead the Knicks to their third straight victory, 123-112 over the slumping Atlanta Hawks.
The Washington Wizards beat the Houston Rockets 131-119 in John Wall's first game in Washington since being traded to Houston.
Zach LaVine led the Chicago Bulls to a 120-112 overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.
The visiting Brooklyn Nets beat the Sacramento Kings 136-125 with Kyrie Irving contributing a game-high 40 points while Golden State Warriors beat Cleveland Cavaliers 129-98, with Steph Curry scoring 36 points.
In Los Angeles, the Clippers beat the Miami Heat 125-118 with Marcus Morris Snr finishing with 32 points.
Australian Associated Press
