A 50-point night courtesy of reigning MVP Joel Embiid propelled the Philadelphia 76ers to a 131-126 win over the Wizards in the nation’s capital.
Embiid hit on 19 of his 29 field goal attempts and 11 of his 13 free throws en route to the sixth 50-point game of his NBA career to go along with 13 rebounds and seven assists.
He joins James Harden and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history with more than three games of 50+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists.
Tyrese Maxey (26 points, seven assists) continued his strong play whilst De’Anthony Melton (19 points, two steals) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (12 point, 5-of-8 shooting) were also key.
A hot close to the first and start of the second saw the Wizards leap out to an unlikely doubled-digit lead before a 76ers fightback saw the lead evaporate.
Wes Unseld Jr.’s squad steadied the ship a little in the third and even managed a lead early in the fourth only for an 8-0 Philadelphia run to turn the tide.
The Wizards finished with a season-high 39 assists on 52 made field goals but gave up 11 offensive rebounds and shot just eight free throws to Philadelphia’s 34.
Tyus Jones had 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go along with eight assists whilst Jordan Poole added 23 points.
The Wizards are back in action in Brooklyn on Saturday whilst the 76ers host the Hawks the same day.
