A extremely anticipated matchup between two star bigs became a historic evening for considered one of them. Joel Embiid dropped 70 factors on the 76ers’ 133-123 win over the Spurs to set a franchise report beforehand owned by Wilt Chamberlain and additional his candidacy to repeat as league MVP.
The duel everybody needed to observe lived as much as the hype early, as Victor Wembanyama and Joel Embiid traded buckets. San Antonio was additionally hitting threes, carving out a fast lead, that didn’t final lengthy, as a few errors bought the house staff again in it. Compounding the problems, Wembanyama bought in early foul hassle, which opened up the paint for Embiid, who dominated inside and on the offensive glass. With Wemby out, Devin Vassell aggressively seemed for his shot and was efficient, which helped the Spurs keep in it regardless of struggling to get stops. The bench did the identical, getting sufficient buckets to keep away from falling behind towards an opponent that was not all that sharp on protection and surprisingly didn’t go consistently to Embiid, who bought no matter he needed from the beginning. After one, the Silver and Black had been up one in a high-scoring recreation.
Wembanyama returned to begin the second interval whereas Embiid rested and he instantly went to work, getting the Spurs buckets and spotlight performs. Sadly, the problems on protection and the boards remained, so every time that they had an empty offensive journey, they fell behind. Wemby picked his third foul, and it may have been the second through which the 76ers pounced to create separation, however Gregg Popovich trusted the rookie and stored him in. After that, each groups made their changes in hopes of containing the opposite’s star massive. Philadelphia did a greater job of attempting to disclaim Wembanyama the ball by letting Jeremy Sochan get all of the room he needed on the perimeter and the Spurs went right into a zone at occasions and recurrently despatched assist when Embiid had the ball. It didn’t matter. On the break, Embiid had 34 and Wembanyama 18 in simply 14 minutes because the Sixers led by 4.
These desirous to see the duel proceed within the second half bought their want, as each Embiid and Wembanyama remained in assault mode, nevertheless it quickly turned clear that there could be just one true protagonist on Monday. Embiid was simply unstoppable. He dominated from the mid-range, the publish, as a dive man within the decide and roll. The Spurs, which did a superb job of not falling behind by too many even after Wembanyama bought his fourth foul, simply had no solutions for the reigning MVP. They tried a zone. They tried Zach Collins and even Jeremy Sochan on him. Nothing labored. Nick Nurse stored discovering methods to get him the ball and Embiid stored discovering methods to get it via the ring. San Antonio may have achieved a significantly better job of rapidly doubling to power the ball away from the large man, however just a few occasions through which they despatched an additional man, Embiid made the suitable move. It was simply his evening.
To their credit score, the Spurs didn’t give up at any level. They trailed by 15 after three quarters and bought it in single digits within the fourth. Sadly, their dedication to maintain preventing is what enabled a historic evening from Embiid, as there was no cause to take him out of a recreation that was probably by no means in true jeopardy for Philadelphia, nevertheless it was additionally by no means a blowout. Wembanyama stayed on the ground after rapidly selecting up his fifth within the fourth, and he put the ending touches to a powerful 33-point efficiency that was utterly overshadowed by his counterpart’s brilliance. The rookie, if all goes as deliberate, may have his time to set data on a contending staff whereas being serenaded with MVP chants, however on Monday, Embiid and the 76ers reminded him and the Spurs that there’s loads of work to be achieved earlier than that day comes.
Recreation notes
Tre Jones left the sport with some type of ankle harm, though it looks like it wasn’t critical. Hopefully he received’t miss time and can have the ability to proceed to develop chemistry with Victor as a result of the staff seemed infinitely higher with him as the place to begin guard and Tre was beginning to determine how one can use the eye Wemby attracts to drive to the rim.
Phrase out of the locker room is that Tre Jones is okay.
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) January 23, 2024
Wembanyama and Devin Vassell seemed like a robust one-two punch towards the Sixers, which is encouraging. They mixed for 55 factors, 11 rebounds and 11 dimes. Each hit some threes and bought to the road towards a Philadelphia staff that couldn’t cease fouling. Good recreation from these two.
Julian Champagnie had 12 factors in underneath quarter-hour and linked on all three of his exterior photographs. Jeremy Sochan had a tough recreation at occasions, because the Sixers dared him to shoot and Pop requested him to protect Embiid, however he did just a little little bit of every little thing, as all the time. The beginning forwards did nicely.
The backup forwards? Not a lot. Doug McDermott moved nicely with out the ball however made solely three of his 9 exterior photographs. Cedi Osman bought simply 11 minutes and didn’t make a lot of an affect. Keldon Johnson tried to be aggressive within the second half, after heading to the locker room attributable to a collision within the first half. The issue is Johnson generally confuses being aggressive with forcing issues, which results in eight-points-in-12-shots nights. Keldon continues to be adjusting.
Poor Zach Collins. He’s nonetheless being requested to take these open straightaway threes on decide and pops that opponents concede totally understanding that he can’t make them persistently. He missed his 5 threes.
Malaki Branham didn’t depart the bench whereas Blake Wesley logged nearly 19 minutes. Wesley has earned his taking part in time. He was stable in his minutes towards the 76ers and his tenacity on protection helps the staff. It could nonetheless be a disgrace to see Branham be relegated to mop-up responsibility, particularly since he struggled whereas taking part in out of place.
Play of the sport:
Wembanyama has been doing significantly better working within the perimeter after turning the ball over so much earlier within the yr on his drives. Performs like these are insane, however he makes them look simple.
Subsequent recreation: vs. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Wednesday
After 5 video games on the street, the Spurs will kick off a seven-game homestand by going through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder. Chet vs. Victor must be lots of enjoyable.
