Cameroon-born Joel Embiid combined with 10-time All-Star James Harden to secure an emphatic 133-122 overtime win for the Philadelphia 76ers over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The Lakers welcomed the return of star duo LeBron James and Anthony Davis after they both missed the last game due to an ankle injury and flu-like illness, respectively.
However, it was Embiid who dragged his team to victory with his 11th 30-point game this season, finishing the game with 38 points and 12 rebounds in 46 minutes.
Embiid shot three of four from the 3-point line, seven of his eight free throws, and ended the game scoring 14 of his 19 field goal attempts.
Harden, playing in his second game since coming back from a tendon sprain injury in his foot, added 28 points and 12 assists in 47 minutes, his sixth of the season, joining Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history with 23,000 points and 6,500 assists.
Anthony Davis started the game poorly, but scored 31 points to force the game into overtime. Davis completed the game with 12 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
Four-time MVP LeBron James suffered a poor shooting game, scoring just nine of his 22 field-goal attempts, one of nine from the 3-point line, and four of eight free throws to end the game with 23 points in 44 minutes.
The 76ers built an early eleven-point lead in the opening frame, but the Lakers fought back in the second quarter to cut the gap to two points going into the third, thanks to a relentless Austin Reaves.
Reaves kept the Lakers within striking distance, making two 3-pointers and scoring 15 of his total 25 points in the first two quarters.
After an excellent third quarter, the 76ers were up by ten, but Davis had other ideas, scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter, capping an excellent Lakers’ run to send the game into overtime.
De’Anthony Melton, an LA Clippers fan, helped the 76ers with a career-high 33 points, eight 3s, and seven steals off the bench to secure the overtime win, putting an end to the 76ers’ three-game losing streak.
Westbrook, however, became the first Lakers player since Magic Johnson in 1996 to have a triple-double while coming off the bench with his 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists—the 195th of his illustrious career.
In the other games, Kevin Durant (34 points) and Kyrie Irving (33 points) combined for 67 points to edge the Brooklyn Nets past the Atlanta Hawks in a 120–116 victory at the Barclays Center.
Irving had 11 rebounds and Durant made 2 blocks as the Nets secured their sixth win in a seven-game home run.
Trae Young (33 points) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (31 points) were not enough to snap a two-game losing streak for the Hawks.
The Orlando Magic made it two out of two for just the second time this season, defeating the Toronto Raptors 113-109 at the Amway Center.
German Franz Wagner led the young Magic team with 34 points, while rookie Paolo Banchero ended the game with 23 points and six assists.
Cameroonian-born Pascal Siakam’s 36 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists were insufficient to continue the Raptors’ excellent record against the Magic.
The Raptors had wiped out a 20-point deficit late in the game thanks to Gart Trent Jr. (20 points) and Fred Van Vleet’s (19 points) combined 39 points, but Markelle Futz’s 15 points, five assists, and perfect shooting from the 3-point line led the Magic to a slim victory.
Other Results
Charlotte Hornets 102–121 New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers 121–111 Washington Wizards
Cleveland Cavaliers 95–106 Sacramento Kings
Memphis Grizzlies 114–103 Detroit Pistons
New Orleans Pelicans 128 –117 Phoenix Suns
Utah Jazz 108–118 Minnesota Timberwolves
Dallas Mavericks 105–106 Milwaukee Bucks
