Joel Embiid lights up Wizards for 29 points in 3rd, 48 overall

Joel Embiid’s season-high 48 points, with 29 of them scored in the third quarter, propelled the Philadelphia 76ers to a decisive 146-128 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night, securing the team’s fifth consecutive win.

The Sixers have maintained an unbeaten record since their one-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in their opening game.

Coach Nick Nurse expressed his satisfaction with the win, saying, “It was good to get another win and get everyone out on the court. Now, we’ll just keep on going and get back out on the court tomorrow.”

In the third quarter, Embiid’s flawless 10-for-10 shooting from the floor and 9-for-9 from the foul line extended the 76ers’ lead to 120-98. His remarkable 29-point performance during that quarter surpassed Zach LaVine’s record for the most points in a quarter, making it the highest score by a 76ers player since at least 1996-97.

Embiid, well-known for his scoring prowess, marked his 40th career 40-point game with the 76ers. He also achieved 11 rebounds and six assists, all while sitting out the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game.

“It was just taking advantage of what was available,” Embiid said modestly. “We played a team. It looks like a lot of points, but a lot of it came just in the flow of the offense.”

Furthermore, he made history by being the first player in the shot clock era to achieve 45 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists while being on the court for less than 31 minutes.

he’s the MVP for a reason. pic.twitter.com/u9C41jRPPk

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 7, 2023

“He’s good at basketball,” said point guard Tyrese Maxey, praising Embiid’s outstanding performance. “I tell people that he’s ready to go now. He’s four or five games in and he’s finding his rhythm. He’s hitting his mid-range jumpers and he’s being aggressive.”

Alongside Embiid, Tobias Harris and DeAnthony Melton contributed 18 and 14 points, respectively, to the Sixers’ victory. Newcomer Nicolas Baton, acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, also made an impressive debut, scoring 11 points on a 4-for-5 shooting.

Kyle Kuzma led Washington with 28 points, while Jordan Poole added 23. However, the Wizards’ efforts were not enough to secure a win, as they suffered their fourth consecutive loss, bringing their record to 1-5.

Despite the setback, Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. acknowledged Embiid’s exceptional performance, saying, “We tried to show different coverages to a really good player and he finds ways to exploit them.”

Philadelphia’s solid play was also evident in their offense, as they converted 51 of 91 field goal attempts and 32 of 36 free throws, highlighting their efficient scoring.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.