Embiid returns and keys Philly win; Mavs up

Dec 6, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) celebrates after scoring his 50th point of the game against the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports.

WASHINGTON—Joel Embiid shrugged off the lingering effects of illness to score 50 points and lead Philadelphia past the Wizards, 131-126, on Wednesday.

The reigning MVP, Embiid missed the Sixers’ last two games due to ill health but returned with a bang to deliver a season-high performance in a slender victory on the road, his second monster against the Wizards this season after the Cameroon-born star dropped 48 points against Washington on Nov. 6.

Embiid, who also had 13 rebounds and seven assists, revealed after the win that he was still not fully fit.

“I didn’t feel good. My chest was killing me,” Embiid said. “I started to feel better in the second half, but I was struggling.”

The win saw the Sixers improve to 13-7 to remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, two games back of leading Boston.

Tyrese Maxey backed Embiid with 26 points while De’Anthony Melton added 19.

Elsewhere, Luka Doncic put on a show with 40 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists—completing his triple-double in the first-half—as the Dallas Mavericks pounded the Utah Jazz, 147-97.

Past a legend

Doncic’s virtuoso performance—the 60th triple-double of his career—took him past the legendary Larry Bird for ninth place on the NBA’s all-time rankings for triples.

“I did that? It’s pretty amazing,” Doncic said when informed of overtaking Bird’s triple-double mark.

“I don’t know what to say, honestly. We all know who Larry Bird was so it’s pretty special,” the 24-year-old Slovenian said. —AFP