NBA: Embiid duels with DeRozan as 76ers top Bulls
Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates after a teammate hit a three point shot late in the game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on February 06, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 119-108. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images/AFP
Joel Embiid had 40 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots to lift the Philadelphia 76ers past the host Chicago Bulls 119-108 on Sunday.
It was the seventh game that Embiid scored at least 40 points this season.
Tobias Harris scored 23 points, Tyrese Maxey added 16 and Seth Curry contributed 12 for the Sixers, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 45 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Nikola Vucevic added 23 points and Javonte Green had 17.
Joel Embiid & DeMar DeRozan battled for all 4 quarters as they both dropped 40+ points in the @sixers win!@DeMar_DeRozan: 45 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST@JoelEmbiid: 40 PTS, 10 REB, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/tUf1g0s6JD
— NBA (@NBA) February 7, 2022
The Bulls played without several key injured players — Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso and Coby White.
The Sixers have won all three meetings against the Bulls thus far this season.
The Sixers bolted to a 51-36 lead after Embiid dropped in two free throws with 5:19 left in the second quarter.
DeRozan completed a three-point play with 1:49 remaining as the Bulls closed within 53-46.
Embiid hit a late 3-pointer, finishing the half with 22 points, and the Sixers led 61-52 at halftime. DeRozan kept the Bulls close with 26 on 10-of-15 shooting.
After the Bulls closed within five early in the third, Curry and Maxey each connected on a trey and the Sixers went ahead 67-56.
The Bulls cut the deficit to 81-75 with 4:23 to go in the third after a 3-pointer by Vucevic. Philadelphia led 89-81 at the end of the third.
Furkan Korkmaz hit a jumper, Danny Green followed with a trey and Harris scored on back-to-back trips to open the fourth as the Sixers took a 98-81 lead.
Matt Thomas came back with a 20-foot jumper for the Bulls to end a 9-0 run. The Bulls eventually countered with a 13-0 stretch of their own to get within 98-94 with 8:06 remaining after another jumper by DeRozan.
Embiid threw down a dunk with 6:03 left and Philadelphia held a 109-100 advantage.
Harris essentially sealed the win when he drove to the basket and scored for a 116-106 lead with 2:01 to go.
