Sixers survive battle with shorthanded Pelicans
Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots past James Johnson #16 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center on May 07, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Joel Embiid had 37 points and 13 rebounds and the host Philadelphia 76ers held on for a 109-107 victory over the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.
It was Embiid’s 16th game this season with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. Embiid was 11 of 20 from the field and 12 of 12 from the free-throw line.
Joel Embiid's double-double of 37 PTS, 13 REB sends the @sixers to 7 wins in a row! #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/LfVkbSxlO6
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2021
Tobias Harris scored 17 points, Seth Curry added 16 and George Hill had 11 for the Sixers (46-21), who won their seventh in a row. Ben Simmons had 10 assists.
Jaxson Hayes led the Pelicans with 19 points, and Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe added 18 apiece. Seven players reached double figures for New Orleans (30-37).
The Pelicans turned the ball over in the final few seconds down by two.
The Pelicans’ lineup was depleted with the absence of Zion Williamson (left ring finger), Brandon Ingram (left low ankle sprain), Josh Hart (right thumb), Steven Adams (toe) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (left ankle).
The Pelicans stayed close and trailed only 48-46 after Jaxson Hayes led an 11-0 run with 5:01 left in the second quarter.
Curry hit his third straight 3-pointer to help the Sixers extend their lead to 55-47 with 3:31 left in the second.
Embiid scored 23 points as the Sixers led 70-54 at halftime. Hayes led the Pelicans with 19.
Embiid continued his stellar play with 10 early points in the third for an 80-69 Sixers advantage.
The Pelicans’ scrappy defense helped them get within 84-80 after Ball hit a trey with 4:15 remaining in the third.
The Pelicans outscored the Sixers 37-18 and pulled ahead 91-88 at the end of the third.
Harris dropped in a 3-pointer from the wing, but the Sixers still trailed 101-100 with 7:17 left in the game. On their next possession, Harris drove to the basket and scored as the Sixers went back ahead by one.
Ball scored in the lane with 1:47 left for a 107-104 Pelicans lead.
Embiid made two free throws and Harris connected on a trey from the corner for a 109-107 Sixers advantage with 1:10 to go.
