Joel Embiid poured in 38 factors as his high-scoring month continued in Philadelphia’s thrashing of Charlotte
Jason Miller
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ADDS late games
Joel Embiid maintained his dominant scoring streak because the Philadelphia 76ers prolonged their successful streak to seven games with a 121-82 thrashing of the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
Embiid, one of the front-runners for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award, rattled in one other 38 factors during a one-sided road victory.
The Sixers star is averaging 35 points a game in March and has not scored fewer than 31 in eight video games this month.
Embiid’s newest tally got here on 16-of-21 shooting, with 13 rebounds and 5 assists.
“Home or road, it does not matter,” Embiid said afterward. “We know what it takes offensively and defensively, everyone doing their job… tonight we did it as a team.”
James Harden had a uncommon off-night with solely 11 points after shooting 4-of-15 from the field, but the Sixers still had far an extreme amount of firepower and defensive savvy for a Charlotte group that is second from the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Tobias Harris added 18 factors whereas Tyrese Maxey chipped in with 13.
Despite the one-sided nature of the win, Sixers coach Doc Rivers was pleased that his group emerged with a clean bill of health.
“It’s just good to get the sport over with and be wholesome,” stated Rivers, who additionally took satisfaction from the Sixers’ ruthless efficiency.
“It just reveals that we’re targeted, and we are showing up and playing,” he stated.
“There is not any assure each night how you’re going to play, but there is a assure how one can present up — and we’re displaying up every night time.”
Philadelphia improved to 47-22 with the win and are third within the East, behind leaders Milwaukee (50-20) and Boston (49-22).
Boston’s revival continued with a 126-112 win on the highway over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 34 points, while Jaylen Brown added 27.
Damian Lillard poured in 41 factors in Portland’s losing effort.
In different games Friday, Maxi Kleber nailed a 27-foot buzzer-beater as the Dallas Mavericks put a dent within the Los Angeles Lakers’ postseason charge to grab a sensational 111-110 street victory.
Kyrie Irving scored 38 factors — and supplied the late help for Kleber — to arrange a thrilling win for Dallas.
Irving’s tally included 13 in the fourth quarter as Dallas overturned a late five-point deficit to assert the win.
The defeat dropped the Lakers to 10th in the Western Conference with a 34-37 document. Dallas in the meantime moved as much as the sixth spot.
Elsewhere Friday, Golden State’s poor highway kind continued with a 127-119 defeat at Atlanta, with Trae Young main the Hawks’ scoring with 25 factors.
With the Warriors missing the defensive presence of the suspended Draymond Green, the reigning NBA champions dropped their 10th straight sport on the highway.
The Warriors are actually 36-35 overall and sixth in a congested Western Conference table.
“Proud of our guys effort, we had our probabilities and had several photographs within the final couple of minutes but just couldn’t get something to go,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the loss.
“These guys are preventing. I consider in them and I consider one thing good’s going to occur with this group. We’ve simply obtained to maintain combating and maintain shifting forward,” added Kerr, disregarding ideas that the Warriors’ problems away from house were psychological.
“It’s not psychological,” Kerr stated. “We’ve been playing properly… however it’s exhausting to win on the street in this league. And we’re just not getting it done.”
Steph Curry led the Warriors scorers with 31 points, and six Golden State gamers finished in double figures.
In Chicago, DeMar DeRozan erupted for 49 points as the Bulls completed a 139-131 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves’ defeat was compounded by a worrying injury to star Anthony Edwards, who yelled in ache after an ungainly touchdown on his proper foot within the first quarter.
Edwards left the sport and did not return before appearing on the bench late on carrying a protecting boot.