Joel Embiid shot 4-21 from the field in the Philadelphia 76ers’ final game, a stat that should have alerted Jay Huff that he was in for a long night as he eclipsed that number in just over a quarter.
Embiid scored 39 points in the 76ers (14-10) 115-105 victory against the Indiana Pacers (6-19) at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday night – his biggest performance since his 70-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs on January 22, 2024. While this production is likely unsustainable, the seven-time all-star found success both on and off the ball, something Philadelphia can continue to do. implement.
Tyrese Maxey missed his first game of the season due to an illness, leaving Embiid as the 76ers’ go-to scorer again. Given his sporadic availability and drop in production, many wondered how he would handle the increased load. Towards the end of the first half the fans got all the clarity they needed.
Embiid put up 19 points in two quarters and moved the best he has all season on both ends of the court. He dribbled to his spots faster, drew fouls from the point of attack like he used to and anchored Philadelphia’s attack from the post.
The bigs added another twenty points for good measure in the second half. In addition to leading all scorers, he tossed nine rebounds, three assists and shot 13-18 from the foul line.
While Embiid mainly scored off the dribble, the 76ers still had him play in pick-and-pops, especially with Quentin Grimes starting in place of Maxey. It’s unreasonable to expect the center to have multiple 30-point games anywhere near this stage of his career, but his on-and-off ball usage should remain in Philadelphia’s game plan.
If the 76ers can reduce the wear and tear on Embiid by using him in plays with Maxey, Paul George, etc., it will keep him fresh for nights when they need him to turn back the clock.
Here’s how it all happened:
First quarter
Without Maxey, Philadelphia’s offensive process was a mystery that George quickly solved. He was responsible for the 76ers’ first seven points, with two points and assists. His guidance was the catalyst behind their early transition success, but it was VJ Edgecombe’s score that stole the spotlight.
He burned the Indiana defense on a fastbreak en route to a dunk that gave Philadelphia a four-point lead less than four and a half minutes into the game. The rookie showcased his athleticism off the bounce and his spot-up shooting, scoring 14 points on 5-6 shooting from the field over 12 minutes.
George and Edgecombe’s hot starts went far as they finished with 23 and 22 points respectively, while each had five assists and shared ball-handling responsibilities throughout the match.
The Pacers weren’t far behind, however, trailing the 76ers 34-31 entering the second frame.
Indiana found success in the restricted area as it took advantage of Philadelphia’s drop coverage via TJ McConnell’s pick-and-rolls. He made four of his first five field goal attempts and the Pacers collectively celebrated low, scoring 16 points in the paint in the quarter.
Second quarter
Indiana picked up where it left off, launching a 9-1 run with Jay Huff’s three-pointer giving it the one-point lead less than three minutes into the period. The 76ers started well defensively, making timely relief rotations on the ball, but the Pacers began to expose the cracks by finding cutters and weak side shooters.
Offense was hard to come by for Philadelphia, which relied on Jared McCain as its primary ballhandler early in the frame. McConnell harassed the sophomore as he shot 2-5 from the field and coughed up one turnover in 20 minutes. The guard also fell victim to defensive mistakes against Indiana’s fast ball movement.
Many expected McCain to shoulder greater responsibility without Maxey, but he played just three minutes in the second half, with the McConnell matchup likely playing a role.
Enter Embiid.
He scored 15 of his 19 first-half points in the quarter and looked more decisive and aggressive attacking off the dribble. The center did his typical damage around the elbow, taking advantage of some coverage and drawing fouls. His offensive outburst gave Philadelphia a 63-58 lead as he walked into the locker room.
Third quarter
Embiid continued to pour it on the Pacers in the second half, eclipsing 20 points in the third quarter. Philadelphia effectively mixed post-ups and pick-and-pops into the seven-time All-Star’s shot diet, allowing him to shred Indiana’s defense in a variety of ways. He hit a spot-up three to score his 13th consecutive points and give the 76ers a 69–61 lead.
However, the 76ers’ offense stopped at Embiid.
Philadelphia hit a wall offensively when the 2022-23 Most Valuable Player took the seat, allowing Indiana to push the score to 90 through three quarters. Between the Pacers’ contributions and philosophical ruthlessness, the 76ers saw their lead disappear. Andrew Nembhard headlined Indiana’s comeback, scoring 11 of his 18 points in the frame.
Fourth quarter
George scored six points in the final two minutes of the third frame, helping prevent the Pacers from enjoying a lead entering the final quarter. He tried to revive Philadelphia’s offense by going downhill using Andre Drummond’s screens, but saw mixed results. Even with Embiid and Edgecombe returning, the 76ers’ offense stalled, missing six of their first nine shot attempts of the frame.
Indiana held a one-point lead midway through the final twelve minutes until Dominick Barlow reached his goal.
His finishing, cutting and rebounding culminated in an 18-5 run in Philadelphia. He scored six of his ten points in the quarter, including a layup that gave the 76ers a two-point lead with three and a half minutes left in regulation, and finished with eight rebounds while shooting 4–8 from the field.
Philadelphia’s offense did just enough to maintain the lead, but the defense really put the game on ice. The 76ers limited Indiana to 15 points in the quarter, as the offensive processes occurred at a slower pace during the game. Philadelphia’s timely turnovers and closeouts led to its 14th win of the season.
The 76ers visit the Atlanta Hawks (14-12) at State Farm Arena on December 14 at 6:00 PM EST.
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