Joel Embiid of Yaounde, Cameroon recorded his fourth career 50-point game on Sunday. The Philadelphia 76ers center scored 53 points in a 131-113 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Embiid’s prior 50-point performances came in a 112-105 win over the Chicago Bulls (50 points) on February 19, 2021, in a 123-110 win over the Orlando Magic (50 points) on January 19, 2022, and in a 105-98 win over the Utah Jazz (career-high 59 points) on November 13, 2022. In the process, Embiid became the third 76ers player in franchise history to have multiple 50 point games in one season. According to ESPN, he joins Wilt Chamberlain of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1965-66, 1967-68), and Allen Iverson (2000-01, 2004-05), as the only 76ers to achieve the mark.
On Sunday, Embiid had 53 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and one blocked shot. He made 20 of 32 field goals, two of three three-pointers, and 11 free throws in 34 minutes and 19 seconds.
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On the season, Embiid is now averaging 33.4 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game, 4.8 assists per game, 1.6 blocks per game, 1.1 steals per game, and has a field goal percentage of .535, three point percentage of .328, and a free throw percentage of .850. It is interesting that Embiid has 2.8 more points per game than the 30.6 points per game he had last year when he led the NBA in points per game.
However you will not see Embiid as the NBA points per game leader this season because he has not played 70% of the 76ers games so far in 2022-23. He has missed eight games because of a knee injury, illness and foot problem.
The 76ers are fifth in the Eastern Conference at 14 wins and 12 losses. It will be interesting to see how strong the 76ers would be if Embiid was injury-free. Where do you think the 76ers would rank? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
