A rejuvenated Griffin scores 50 points in the win of the pistons

Blake Griffin has come to tear up the N.B.A. in 2010 after being No. 1 in the overall draft in 2009 for the Clippers, winning five consecutive All-Star selections. In the years that followed, he continued to score about 20 points per game, but began to suffer injuries. The Clippers finally traded to the Pistons last January. His years as an elite player seemed to be over.

Then, improbably Tuesday night, for the first time in his career, Griffin scored 50 points in a 133-132 overtime win over the 76ers. He limited the effort with the winner of the match: a treadmill and a free throw with two seconds to go into overtime. He seemed rejuvenated at 29 years old.

His 50 points did not come in the typical way of a powerful front 6 feet 10 inches. Griffin tied career records in three points (five) and tries (10). Sometimes he looked more like a playmaker, lifting the ball, running dribbling behind his back and spinning. But he also took advantage of his big horse: many of his 2 pointers were taken away by the defense.

And it was not just about marking. He also had 14 rebounds and six assists.

His previous career record was 47 points in 2011. Last season, his record was only 33. But this season, he scored 26 and 33 in his first two games.

Griffin attributed to his health his improved game: "Being able to train for the first time in three summers is huge," he told ESPN. "The last three summers, I fought and worked as hard as I could to be healthy and able to play."