PHILADELPHIA, PA — Joel Embiid’s outstanding performance, scoring 35 points, powered the Philadelphia 76ers to a comprehensive 124-92 win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. This victory in the home-and-home series inflicted a franchise-record 22nd consecutive loss on the struggling Pistons.
Embiid, following a 41-point game on Wednesday, coupled his scoring prowess with 13 rebounds, marking his ninth consecutive double-double. The 76ers’ center has been on a historic run, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain’s franchise record for consecutive games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. His remarkable start to the season also mirrors Chamberlain’s 1964-65 feats.
Tyrese Maxey contributed significantly with 19 points, while James Wiseman led the Pistons with 20 points. Bojan Bogdanovic added 17 points for Detroit, which now stands at a dismal 2-23 overall.
The game was a showcase of Embiid’s evolving skills, with his teammate Maxey highlighting the center’s improvement and versatility on the court. Tobias Harris, a former Piston, added 13 points for Philadelphia, and Marcus Morris Sr. made a notable impact off the bench, hitting five 3-pointers for 15 points.
Philadelphia’s dominance was evident in the second quarter, where they outscored Detroit 35-17, establishing a 61-39 lead by halftime. The advantage expanded to 32 points by the end of the third quarter, allowing 76ers coach Nick Nurse to rest Embiid and other regulars for the final quarter.
The Pistons’ struggles were compounded by 21 turnovers, their second-highest total of the season. Nurse credited his team’s defensive adjustments for forcing these turnovers.
The game also had its share of tension, stemming from a previous encounter involving Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart and 76ers guard Patrick Beverley. While there was some pregame confrontation, the conflict did not significantly impact the game, though Stewart and Embiid each received technical fouls.
Looking ahead, the Pistons face a challenging matchup against Milwaukee on Saturday, while the 76ers travel to play Charlotte, seeking to continue their winning momentum.
