The Philadelphia 76ers posted impressive performances this past week with two out of their three games being wins. Philadelphia had their win streak snapped by the Chicago Bulls, but the team quickly bounced back beating the league’s top-seeded Minnesota...
The Philadelphia 76ers posted impressive performances this past week with two out of their three games being wins. Philadelphia had their win streak snapped by the Chicago Bulls, but the team quickly bounced back beating the league’s top-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves along with the Toronto Raptors. The Sixers are now 20-8, third in the Eastern Conference, and just 1.5 games behind the first-place Boston Celtics. The 76ers have a holiday week full of action with four games on the road.
The Sixers’ Promising Week in Review
The Sixers started their week with a disappointing 108-104 loss against the Bulls at home. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey had an impressive outing with 69 combined points on a combined 24 of 51 shots. However, no other player was able to get double-digits, and the three other starters had just 12 points combined. Despite the disappointing loss, the team quickly rebounded against the league’s highest seed and defense Timberwolves.
The 76ers beat Minnesota 127-113, and Maxey and Embiid made their argument for the best duo in the league with a dominating performance against Rudy Gobert and company. Minnesota’s starting five was extremely efficient offensively but did not have the firepower of the Sixers’ duo. Surprisingly enough, this was another game in that no other player had double digits, but every player to took more than one shot was over 40% shooting from the field. The 76ers’ efficient shooting was a plus, but Embiid and Maxey stole the show with 51 and 35 points, respectively. The Sixers’ star duo highlighted their pick-and-roll game which froze Timberwolves’ defenders as Embiid showed his ability to stretch the floor, hitting a few mid-range jumpers along with showcasing his ability to attack the rim on certain plays.
Lastly, Philadelphia took care of the Toronto Raptors at home 121-111. Maxey and Embiid had help from Tobias Harris this game, as all three posted 30 or more points. As a team, they shot 53% from the field, 45.2% from three, and 90.5% at the free throw line. This win, along with the Minnesota win, showcased Embiid’s campaign for a second-straight MVP, Maxey’s push for All-Star, and the team’s ability to do their role to help the duo. Embiid and Maxey lead the NBA as a scoring duo with 61.4 combined points per game.
Christmas Wishing for Road Wins
The 76ers face four opponents on the road this upcoming week as they look to continue their recent success. This is highlighted by a Christmas Day game against the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat. Wednesday, the team will stay in Florida to face the Eastern Conference’s fourth-seeded Orlando Magic. This is followed by back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday against the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls, respectively. It has been evident that Embiid and Maxey will get theirs each game, but it comes down to the 76ers’ “other guys” to be reliable, consistent, and efficient options as seen last week.
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