Embiid leads 76ers’ blowout of Bucks in battle of East heavyweights
Joel Embiid was unyielding under the basket, arms extended sky high as Giannis Antetokounmpo tried to plow through the All-Star centre for a bucket. Embiid absorbed the contact and slapped the ball out of Antetokounmpo’s hands, one of a bountiful of disruptive plays triggered by the big man.
«A lot of people have kind of forgotten who I am,» Embiid said. «When I’m needed, I’m going to show up.»
Embiid had 31 points and 11 rebounds in Philadelphia’s first home Christmas game in 31 years, and the three-point happy 76ers beat Milwaukee 121-109 on Wednesday.
Tobias Harris sank five 3s, Josh Richardson and Furkan Korkmaz each had four and even Embiid hit three as part of Philly’s franchise record-tying 21 3s (on 44 attempts) in its most complete game of the season.
«I think this team is designed for the playoffs,» coach Brett Brown said. «I believe the road we have travelled so far has been a little bit erratic, at times. But I think the landing spot is exciting.»
Harris and Al Horford hit 3s over the final 90 seconds to push back a late Bucks run, and the Sixers improved to 16-2 at home.
? <a href=»https://twitter.com/JoelEmbiid?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>@JoelEmbiid</a>’s double-double of 31 PTS, 11 REB propels the <a href=»https://twitter.com/sixers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>@sixers</a> past MIL in Philadelphia! <a href=»https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAXmas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>#NBAXmas</a> <a href=»https://twitter.com/hashtag/PhilaUnite?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw»>#PhilaUnite</a> <a href=»https://t.co/W1z889AOUh»>pic.twitter.com/W1z889AOUh</a>
—@NBA
There was a charged atmosphere for the anticipated matchup featuring Embiid and Ben Simmons taking on Khris Middleton and Antetokounmpo. Fans dressed as elves, wore ugly sweaters and held signs that said all they wanted for Christmas was a Sixers win.
They got it, with Embiid bullying the reigning MVP in Antetokounmpo on the way to the Sixers’ biggest halftime lead (21 points) against the Bucks under coach Mike Budenholzer.
«It was just one of those nights,» Budenholzer said.
Embiid scored 23 points and was troublesome defensively, holding Antetokounmpo to 4-for-14 shooting in the half. The Sixers hit 11 3s in the half and made the NBA-best Bucks (27-5) look like anything but Eastern Conference contenders.
Brown said before the game the Bucks were «NBA royalty.» They have a ways to go before they’re crowned tops in the East.
With fans chanting «Trust the Process!» on Embiid free throws, the star centre was worthy of the holiday highlight video.
«I reminded our team, people in America have more appreciation for this day in the NBA,» Brown said. «We’re grateful for the opportunity.»
The Sixers aced their test against the NBA’s best.
«I’m not going to overvalue one game,» 76ers general manager Elton Brand said, «but it’s a good barometer.»
Middleton scored 31 points and Antetokounmpo had 18 points and 14 rebounds. Antetokounmpo got flustered over a perceived missed call on an eye poke and was whistled for a technical in the fourth.
Antetokounmpo, who was 8 for 27 from the floor, 0 for 7 3s, said he briefly suffered blurred vision.
