The 10 Most Surprising 50-Point Games in NBA History | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Corey Brewer had played six seasons in the NBA before he returned to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2013-14 season. His career average was 9.5 points on 41.6 percent shooting. His career three-point percentage was 29.8.

On April 11, 2014, he had an out-of-body experience on the way to 51 points on 19-of-30 shooting from the field and 11-of-15 shooting from the line. Prior to that game, Brewer's career highs for points, field goals and free throws were 29, 12 and 10.

After the game, LeBron James was asked about the performance, per NBC Sports' Tom Haberstroh:

"LeBron, hear about Corey Brewer?" "Nah." "He scored 51 tonight." "Wait, who?!"

Brewer had been a serviceable role player to that point in his career, but the bulk of his minutes were earned on defense. His length, athleticism and switchability made him a versatile weapon on that end.

That night, those attributes were deployed to greater effect on offense than they had been in any other game in his career. Brewer was like a one-man, in-game layup line, particularly in transition.

The 16 shots he made within five feet of the hoop gave him the season high for a single game that season, two ahead of Blake Griffin's 14 against the Miami Heat.

Brewer would never approach that level of scoring again. His scoring average over his next five (and final) seasons was 6.9. If it's any consolation to him, the figures he posted before and after 51 give him a pretty good shot to top lists like this.