The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the San Antonio Spurs 133-123 at home behind Joel Embiid‘s 70-point dominating performance. The win boosts the Sixers to 29-13 and extends their win streak to a total of six games. In a duel against rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama, Embiid stole the spotlight for a historic night.
Breaking Down Embiid’s Historic Night
Embiid finished the game with 70 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 assists, along with a steal and block. The reigning MVP shot an outstanding 24 for 41 (58.5%) and 21 for 23 (91.3%) from the free throw line. He also had one of his two three-point attempts go in. After the stellar performance, the Sixer’s big man now holds the franchise record for most points in a game after passing Wilt Chamberlain‘s 68 back in 1967. He is also just the ninth player in NBA history to reach the 70-point mark in a single game. Not only did he reach a career-high in points, but the 76ers’ center marked a career-high in rebounds as well. Aside from the individual game, Embiid has been on a tear as of late with 21 straight games scoring at least 30 points. Performances like this keep adding to his campaign for two consecutive MVPs.
Looking at the Game at a Glance
This game was highly competitive in the first half as eyes were glued to the matchup between Wembanyama and Embiid. The 76ers had the lead over the Spurs at the half 62-58, but Embiid had 34 points and 10 rebounds at that point already. The third quarter kept San Antonio’s hands full as Philadelphia outscored them 42-31. The Spurs tried to rally back in the fourth but could only make it a 10-point loss to the home team. Besides Embiid’s dominance, Tyrese Maxey added 18 points and 8 assists for the Sixers. Wembanyama had 33 points, and Devin Vassell tacked on 22 points in the Spurs’ effort.
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