Joel Embiid overcame an ankle injury to score 31 points and secure 10 rebounds on Friday, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 121-111 NBA win against Toronto. This marked his 13th consecutive game with 30 points and 10 rebounds.
Joel Embiid, the current NBA Most Valuable Player, received strong support from Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, who each scored 33 points for the 76ers. Embiid had a tough start, only scoring two points in the first quarter after twisting his ankle. He then returned to the game and finished the first half with 11 points, three rebounds, six assists, and five turnovers. Harris played a crucial role in keeping the Sixers competitive, scoring 24 points in the first half and helping them take a 61-58 lead at halftime after the Raptors had led by as much as 15.
In the third quarter, Embiid came alive, scoring 17 consecutive points for the 76ers and extending the team’s lead to 90-77. Despite showing signs of discomfort, Embiid continued his impressive performance, extending the NBA’s longest streak of 30-point, 10-rebound games since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 16 straight in 1971-72. The Raptors, led by Pascal Siakam’s 31 points, narrowed the deficit to three late in the third quarter before the Sixers pulled away again. Maxey contributed 10 assists, and Harris added eight rebounds and seven assists to his season-high points as the Sixers secured their eighth win in their last nine games.
Denver Nuggets 122, Brooklyn Nets 117
In Brooklyn, Jamal Murray scored 32 points and Nikola Jokic contributed 31 points along with 11 rebounds as the defending champions Denver Nuggets secured a 122-117 victory over the Nets. Aaron Gordon chipped in 18 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 15 for the Nuggets, who clinched their third consecutive win. The game saw six lead changes in the fourth quarter, with Cam Thomas making a four-point play in the final 19.4 seconds to bring the Nets within one point at 115-114. However, Murray’s three free-throws extended the Nuggets’ lead, ultimately securing their win. Thomas led the Nets with 23 points, while Cameron Johnson added 17, with a total of seven Brooklyn players scoring in double figures.
Miami Heat 122, Atlanta Hawks 113
In Miami, Tyler Herro scored 30 points and Duncan Robinson contributed 21 of his 27 points as a substitute in the final quarter to propel the Heat to a 122-113 win against the Atlanta Hawks. Despite falling behind by 11 points early in the third quarter, the Heat managed to withstand a 30-point, 13-assist performance from Atlanta’s Trae Young, who achieved his sixth consecutive game with at least 30 points and 10 assists.
Golden State Warriors 129, Washington Wizards 118
Stephen Curry, a star player for the Warriors, scored 30 points and made a season-best eight three-pointers in a 129-118 victory against the Washington Wizards, where he sat out the entire fourth quarter. This game also featured former Warrior Jordan Poole.
Sacramento Kings 120, Phoenix Suns 105
Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis achieved his fourth triple-double of the season, scoring 28 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out 11 assists to contribute to the Kings’ 120-105 victory against the Phoenix Suns. The Suns, led by Kevin Durant’s 28 points, were unable to secure the win.
Houston Rockets 122, Dallas Mavericks 96
Houston’s Alperen Sengun had an impressive performance, scoring 22 points and securing 15 rebounds as the Rockets dominated the injury-plagued Dallas Mavericks with a 122-96 victory. The Mavericks were missing key players including Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively, Dante Exum, Josh Green, and Maxi Kleber.
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