3 observations after Embiid hangs 48 on Wizards, Sixers win fifth straight

3 observations after Embiid hangs 48 on Wizards, Sixers win fifth straight originally appeared on
NBC Sports Philadelphia

Joel Embiid’s presence was again not required for the fourth quarter.

He was incredibly productive over the first three quarters, however.

Embiid played 31 minutes Monday night against the Wizards at the Wells Fargo Center, scoring 48 points on 17-for-25 shooting. He also grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out six assists, leading the Sixers to a dominant 146-128 victory.

The team now has an impressive 5-1 record and a five-game winning streak as they prepare to face the Celtics on Wednesday to conclude their homestand.

Tyrese Maxey had a standout performance with 22 points, a career-high 11 assists, and zero turnovers. Tobias Harris contributed 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 28 points, while Jordan Poole scored 23. The Wizards dropped to 1-5.

Here are some key observations from the Sixers’ blowout win against the Wizards:

Embiid’s Frustrating Start Not an Issue at All

Embiid started the game shooting just 1 for 5 from the floor.

He expressed frustration over what seemed like multiple missed calls on Daniel Gafford. Gafford was performing well as a roller, rim-runner, and offensive rebounder, scoring his third dunk of the night to give the Wizards an 8-2 lead. Gafford’s incredible defensive performance included five blocks in under seven minutes.

Harris played aggressively in both the half court and open floor, providing valuable contributions to the Sixers. He scored two jumpers on Kuzma in the first quarter, drew four foul shots, and showcased his ability to grab the ball and quickly create offense. Harris scored 10 of the Sixers’ first 17 points.

The Wizards’ defense did not pose a significant threat, but the Sixers’ pace, passing, and decisiveness were all positive factors that led to the impression of the Wizards being an outmatched, low-energy team.

Of course, it also speaks volumes about Embiid’s dominance that he can experience an extended period of frustration and still score an efficient 48 points. His ruthlessness was particularly evident in the third quarter, where he scored 29 points and had a perfect shooting performance from both the field (10 for 10) and the foul line (9 for 9).

Impressive Batum Debut

Nicolas Batum made an excellent first impression for the Sixers.

After joining the team along with Robert Covington, KJ Martin, and Marcus Morris Sr., Batum was absent for two games due to a personal matter. However, in his first game, he quickly won over the fans with his performance. Batum hit two catch-and-shoot jumpers in the first quarter, forced a steal, and demonstrated a strong understanding of the Sixers’ defensive schemes and floor spacing alongside the team’s stars.

He opened the second quarter with another three-pointer and even managed to score a contested baseline two-pointer with a high bounce into the hoop. Though Batum may not consistently replicate his performance from Monday night, his ability to shoot from outside is undoubtedly one of his strong attributes. Over the past three seasons with the Clippers, Batum shot an impressive 39.8 percent from three-point range on 4.2 attempts per game.

In the first half, the Sixers’ bench also featured Patrick Beverley, Jaden Springer, Furkan Korkmaz, and Paul Reed. Marcus Morris made his debut in the late third quarter, and Robert Covington came off the bench early in the fourth.

Melton Bounces Back

Prior to the game, De’Anthony Melton had been struggling with his shooting, with a field goal percentage of 28.6 percent and a three-point percentage of 27.3 percent.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse revealed that he had spoken to Melton during shootaround and asked if there was anything he could do to help. Melton confidently responded that he would start making the shots that hadn’t been falling.

And that’s exactly what happened against the Wizards. Despite missing a couple of layups in the first half, Melton regained his rhythm from beyond the arc, making his first four three-point attempts.

While Melton’s shooting slump hadn’t been a major concern for the Sixers since their other four starters were averaging over 20 points per game, his ability to contribute as a scorer adds to the team’s offensive firepower. The Sixers have shown that they possess self-creation, transition scoring ability, and players like Melton who can have hot shooting nights.

Maxey, although relatively quiet in terms of scoring during the first half, excelled in pick-and-roll situations with Embiid, causing significant trouble for the Wizards throughout the game. Maxey surpassed his previous career-high of 10 assists with 3:42 left in the third quarter, finishing the game with zero turnovers.

Although the Sixers had some defensive lapses, leaving Kuzma open for a couple of three-pointers in the third quarter and experiencing breakdowns when playing zone defense, Embiid’s outstanding performance and the team’s overall offensive showcase made up for any defensive shortcomings.