JOEL EMBIID GIVES UNPRECEDENTED PERFORMANCE IN WIN VS. JAZZ
The seventh-year veteran scored 101 points … in less than 24 hours, followed up a 42-point performance on Saturday, and posted a career-best 59 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and seven blocks on Sunday.
Embiid led the Sixers to a 105-98 victory, shooting 19-for-28 from the field and 20-for-24 at the free-throw line, becoming the first player since to post at least a 50-10-5-5 line. the blocks began to be monitored in 1973-74.
Embiid turned it around when it mattered most, scoring a whopping 26 of the Sixers’ 27 points in the fourth quarter, shooting 7-for-8 from the field and 12-for-15 at the line and adding five blocks in the fourth. quarter itself. The Jazz, by comparison, totaled 20 points and had zero blocks in the fourth.
Joel’s highest score
It is the fifth-highest scoring performance in 76ers history and tied for Allen Iverson’s 60 on February 12, 2005. Wilt Chamberlain – Who else? — holds the three best marks with 68 (December 16, 1967), 65 (February 7, 1966), and 62 (March 3, 1966).
“Those are two legends that played here that I have a lot of respect for and it means a lot to be in this company. Embiid was first drafted No. 3 overall in 2014 and spent two full seasons dealing with various foot and back injuries before hitting the floor in 2016-17, making the All-Rookie First Team in just 31 games.
“I’ve never seen a more dominant performance when you combine defense and offense,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers said after the game.
Embiid’s 59-point game came on a day when another player beat him to the first 50-point game of 2022-23: Cleveland’s Darius Garland. The last time there were multiple 50-point performances in a single day was April 9, 2021, when Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls (53 points)With the Sixers up 101-98 with 1:19 left, Embiid blocked Collin Sexton’s drive and then went right down and hit a low jumper to seal the win.
Shaking off nagging injuries
Shaking off nagging injuries, Embiid posted his breakout game, his seventh of the season, on the second night of the home opener. His 101 points this weekend made him just the third player since 1988 to score more than 100 points. He had a total of 21 rebounds and 14 assists. And he did it all with James Harden still out with a leg injury.
Embiid was aware he was on the verge of reaching 60 points — he hit a 3-pointer in the final minute that wasn’t close (he missed 4 of 5 3s overall).
“I could easily dribble the ball and pull up,” Embiid said with a laugh