This Day in 1953: Jerry West Scores 53 as Lakers Edge Royals in Double Overtime
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On January 29, 1953, Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West poured in 53 points to propel his team to a 137-133 double-overtime victory over the Cincinnati Royals.
The matchup turned into a showcase between two Hall of Fame point guards. Cincinnati’s Oscar Robertson finished with a triple-double—36 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists—but West’s scoring outburst proved decisive.
Forward Elgin Baylor supplied 36 points and 18 rebounds for Los Angeles. Teammates Rudy LaRusso (17 points, 14 rebounds) and LeRoy Ellis (11 points, 10 rebounds) also recorded double-doubles, helping the Lakers improve to 29-21.
West’s performance came before the advent of the three-point line, underscoring the magnitude of his 53-point effort. Despite repeatedly contending with the dominant Boston Celtics during that era, nights like this cemented West’s place among the NBA’s all-time great scorers.
Source: Lakers Nation
