Joel Embiid had his second 50 or more points game of the season and the seventh of his career with a 51-point performance in the Philadelphia 76ers 127-113 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
The Cameroonian also grabbed 12 rebounds, had two steals, and finished with a block as he shot 17-of-25 from the field and 17/18 from the free throw line. He also recorded his 12th straight game with 30 or more points and 10-plus rebounds—the longest streak of such a record since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it in 16 consecutive games for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1971–72 season.
Joel Embiid dropped a SEASON-HIGH 51 PTS in the Sixers’ win over the Timberwolves ‼️
???? 51 PTS
???? 12 REB
???? 68% FGThis marks Joel Embiid’s third consecutive game of 40+ PTS & 10+ REB. Only Wilt Chamberlain has had such a streak in 76ers franchise history! pic.twitter.com/HN59F6LxBZ
— NBA (@NBA) December 21, 2023
“I felt like I was playing within the offense and not forcing anything,” Embiid said. “I took what was being given to me.
“And what I’ve been trying to figure out is when to be aggressive and when to let my teammates do their thing.”
Embiid, who is averaging 38.3 points over his last 12 games and has tallied 40 or more in four of his last five, is averaging 35.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game this season.
“We’re winning and that’s all that matters,” he said.
“Stats are great and it’s great to put up stats. But if it comes with a loss, then that’s a different story. If it comes with a win, it means a lot,” the 29-year-old Yaounde native added.
STATEMENT WIN. @cryptocom pic.twitter.com/yrcyHxyp48
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 21, 2023
The 76ers raced to a 28-24 lead in the first quarter, but the second quarter was evenly contested, with both teams tied at 36 apiece. Minnesota ended the third quarter with a one-point lead of 27-26, but Philadelphia had a solid fourth quarter, ending with 37-26 to finish the game with a 14-point lead.
Tyrese Maxey finished with 35 points and five 3s inside the Wells Fargo Center to help the 76ers clinch their seventh victory in eight games and improve to 19-8 for the season.
Anthony Edwards finished with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists; Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 23 points and 13 rebounds; and Jaden McDaniels had 21 points for Minnesota, as they remain atop the Western Conference standings with a 20-6 record.
The 76ers will be in action on Friday night against the Toronto Raptors, while the Timberwolves will return home to face the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center on Thursday night.
