NBA: Joel Embiid scores 48 points, 76ers win fifth straight

Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid, center, goes up for a shot against Washington Wizards’ Johnny Davis, left, and Mike Muscala during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid scored 29 of his season-high 48 points in the third quarter and the Philadelphia 76ers rolled to their fifth straight victory, 146-128 over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.

Philadelphia is unbeaten after a one-point loss at Milwaukee in its opener.

“It was good to get another win and get everyone out on the court,” Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said. “Now, we’ll just keep on going and get back out on the court tomorrow.”

In the third quarter, Embiid was 10 for 10 from the floor and 9 for 9 from the foul to help the 76ers extend their lead to 120-98.

“That’s pretty efficient,” Nurse deadpanned.

Joel Embiid was LOCKED IN tonight for the @sixers win at home!

🔥48 PTS
🔥11 REB
🔥6 AST pic.twitter.com/Z1cN9VQq71

— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2023

Embiid has scored 40 or more points 40 times in the regular season. He also had 11 rebounds and six assists while sitting out the fourth quarter for the second straight game.

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

“He’s good at basketball,” said point guard Tyrese Maxey, who scored 22 points, had a career-high 11 assists and didn’t record a turnover. “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.”

Tobias Harris had 18 and DeAnthony Melton a season-high 14 for the Sixers. Nicolas Baton, who was picked up as one of the pieces in the trade that sent James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers, scored 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting in his Sixers debut.

“I like to think that we’ve played aggressively and we’re looking for opportunities early when we get the ball,” Nurse said.

Kyle Kuzma scored 28 points for Washington, and Jordan Poole had 23. The Wizards have lost four straight to fall to 1-5.

“We tried to show different coverages to a really good player and he finds ways to exploit them,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said.

Washington turned the ball over 19 times, many of which turned into transition points against an offense that moved quickly up the floor most of the night.

“I thought that our effort was good, but I thought that we had a lot of coverage mistakes,” Unseld said. “And against a really good team, they are going to make you pay for it.”

Philadelphia was 51 for 91 from the floor and 32 of 36 from the foul line.

UP NEXT

Wizards: Travel to Charlotte to begin a home-and-home against the Hornets on Wednesday night

76ers: Host Boston on Wednesday night in first meeting since the Celtics’ win in Game 7 of last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals.