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With every 30-point performance, Kawhi Leonard inches closer to Tim Duncan.
Leonard dropped 35 in the Spurs’ season-opening win over Golden State. He poured in 30 against Sacramento two days later.
In 44 games, he has equaled or exceeded 30 points 15 times. Across his first five seasons Leonard had managed that feat seven times, including twice in the playoffs.
Tim Duncan holds the record for most 30-point games in a single season under coach Gregg Popovich, finishing with 20 in 2001-02. He had 17 in 1999-2000 and 16 in 2002-03, the season he won his second and final regular-season MVP.
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Since Popovich took over in Dec. 1996, no other player has had more than Leonard’s 15.
Of course, the pre-Popovich era was filled with some guys who could light it up.
George Gervin had 52 30-point games in 1979-80 and won the league’s scoring title that year, averaging 33.1 points.
Gervin and David Robinson have all of the Spurs’ 11 highest 30-point game totals, with Duncan’s 20 coming in at No. 12.
With 34 games remaining in the 2016-17 regular-season, Leonard has ample time to match or surpass Duncan’s mark.
Seasons with most 30-point games in Spurs history
1
George Gervin*
G
1979-80
52
2
George Gervin*
G
1981-82
47
3
George Gervin*
G
1978-79
41
4
David Robinson*
C
1993-94
41
5
David Robinson*
C
1994-95
36
6
George Gervin*
G
1980-81
33
7
George Gervin*
G
1983-84
32
8
George Gervin*
G
1977-78
28
9
David Robinson*
C
1990-91
24
10
David Robinson*
C
1995-96
23
11
George Gervin*
G
1982-83
21
12
Tim Duncan
F
2001-02
20
13
Mike Mitchell
F
1983-84
19
14
Mike Mitchell
F
1985-86
19
15
Tim Duncan
F
1999-00
17
16
George Gervin*
G
1976-77
17
17
George Gervin*
G
1984-85
17
18
Mike Mitchell
F
1984-85
17
19
Tim Duncan
F
2002-03
16
20
David Robinson*
C
1989-90
16
21
Kawhi Leonard
F
2016-17
15
nmoyle@express-news.net
Twitter: @NRmoyle
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