Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play during a game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on January 05, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP
Joel Embiid scored 31 points and Seth Curry had 20 points and 12 assists, helping the Philadelphia 76ers rally past the host Orlando Magic 116-106 on Wednesday night in head coach Doc Rivers’ return to the bench.
Rivers cleared COVID-19 protocol after the 76ers went 2-0 under acting coach Dan Burke.
After being named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December on Tuesday, Embiid made 12-of-22 field goals and 7-of-10 free throws as Philadelphia extended its winning streak to five games.
Embiid has scored 30 or more points in eight consecutive road games, and he also set a career high with his fifth straight game with at least 30 points. Former Magic player Tobias Harris contributed 22 points and nine rebounds in the 76ers’ sixth consecutive win over Orlando.
🔥 @JoelEmbiid went off for his 5th straight 30+ point game to push the @sixers win streak to 5! pic.twitter.com/1Og2Ha8Vsp
— NBA (@NBA) January 6, 2022
Furkan Korkmaz totaled 15 of his 20 points in the second half for Philadelphia, while Andre Drummond came off the bench to score 12.
A jumper by Terrence Ross (18 points) gave Orlando an 81-70 lead with 5:01 left in the third quarter, but the 76ers closed within 89-88 entering the final period. Philadelphia then outscored the Magic 28-17 over the last 12 minutes as Curry’s three-point play with 1:23 to go secured the 76ers’ 14th road victory of the season.
Orlando, which committed 19 turnovers, dropped its seventh consecutive game. The Magic also had separate seven-game losing streaks in November and December.
Cole Anthony (right ankle sprain) and Wendell Carter Jr. (non-COVID illness) were in Orlando’s starting lineup after being listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.
Anthony, who had not played since Dec. 23 and has missed 14 games this season due to injury, had 26 points and seven assists despite leaving briefly in the third quarter with an injury to his left ankle. Carter had 12 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth straight double-double.
Orlando’s Franz Wagner had 15 points to make it 21 consecutive games scoring in double figures. Wagner became the eighth player in franchise history to earn NBA Rookie of the Month honors as he was the Eastern Conference recipient for December.
Mo Bamba added a season-high 19 points for Orlando.