Reigning MVP Joel Embiid (career-high and Sixer franchise-high 70 factors, 18 rebounds, and 5 assists) produced his twentieth straight recreation of 30 or extra factors, together with an astounding 25 within the third, in a supremely dominant effort that garnered his Philadelphia 76ers a decisive win. San Antonio saved tempo with the Japanese Convention big for the primary 2.5 quarters by taking pictures properly and never turning the ball over an excessive amount of, however the guests had no reply for the white-hot scoring behemoth.
The Sixers (29-13) maintained tempo with Boston and Milwaukee atop the East standings, and had been led by Embiid who handled the Spurs’ frontline like a grade-school group. Tyrese Maxey additionally chipped in 18 factors and eight assists. San Antonio fell to 8-35 on the finish of its 5 recreation roadie, however performed a formidable 2+ quarters when it may have been blown out on many events all through the Sixer onslaught.
San Antonio was led by its Rookie of the 12 months Candidate Victor Wembanyama and his fourth 30-point recreation this season (33 factors and seven rebounds) and the heady playmaking of Devin Vassell (22 factors and 9 assists), as all 5 starters made it to double-digits. Keldon Johnson sustained a minimize on his chin and left the motion for the majority of the center quarters earlier than returning late within the third.
Within the first quarter, Wembanyama and Embiid had been showcased on the head of their groups’ offensive assaults, and pleasingly went proper at one another. In 1 / 4 the place Embiid took greater than half of his groups pictures, whereas scoring 70% of the Sixers’ factors, San Antonio’s duo of Wembanyama and Vassell poured in ten every.
The second interval, as aggressive because it was, performed out very similar to the primary, with Embiid lithely passing the 30 level mark, whereas Wembanyama tried to fiercely match his manufacturing. San Antonio utilized the stress from behind the arc and in transition, whereas Philadelphia (properly, Embiid) constructed a determined free throw benefit. Once more, foul hassle was the one factor that hindered Wembanyama, and but, San Antonio encouragingly managed to maintain the deficit to inside 2-3 possessions for your entire half.
Within the third quarter, Maxey confirmed off his new offensive weaponry to help Embiid and the Sixers pushed San Antonio down double-digits. Wembanyama dedicated his fourth foul, and the Spurs had been left to forge a comeback in opposition to somebody seemingly bent on matching Kobe Bryant’s 81-point output 18 years in the past. The Spurs’ taking pictures contact pale simply sufficient to permit Philadelphia put the sport safely out of attain.
Observations:
The Ringer’s Michael Pina laid out his preliminary All-Star Sport rosters in the present day and Wembanyama is lowered to a footnote in a really crowded West roster. (No less than Chet Holmgren isn’t on that record!
These Metropolis of BROTHERLY Love jerseys are…. one thing.
Brendan Haywood referred to Wemby pre-game as “The Unicorn in Uniform.” I like this!
Devin’s Deeds: Contemplating his latest taking pictures hunch, a productive use for him could be the Klay Thompson position (or for older Spurs followers, Dale Ellis) of catch-and-shoot magician. Within the first half, Sochan discovered Vassell for a wing three, which eliminated alot of the work of dribbling himself into a good look.
Tyrese Maxey is a superb pattern for the Spurs’ younger wings. His astronomical progress – on each ends – since 2020 has been one thing to behold. His bio lists him as 6’2” and 200 lb. (a extra explosive Donovan Mitchell?); so we’re not speaking a few bodily unicorn or alien. He’ll make his first all-star group this 12 months.
Throughout one possession late within the first, Zach Collins bricked a 3, adopted by a Blake Wesley airball, and Doug McDermott additionally launched an airball of his personal. (All of Collins misses from distance had been thudding bricks).
VICTOR EASE: It’s previous hat for us now, however Wembanyama, late within the first half, took a unfastened ball, casually introduced it up the court docket, and laid an ideal bounce cross to a streaking Wesley for a layup. Simply really easy. On a 3rd quarter possession, he executed an excellent give-and-go with Sochan – passing a slumbering Embiid to web himself free throws.
Sequence of the Sport: Within the final moments of the primary half, Tre Jones stole an entry cross, sped up court docket, and located a streaking Wesley for an emphatic slam. Extra importantly, it introduced the Spurs inside two in what was then a good contest.
Dedication to pacing and sharing together with a pair of Wemby threes helped San Antonio leap out 14-5. The energized combatants put up 30 factors collectively within the opening 4 minutes! Embiid took most of the SIxers’ shot makes an attempt whereas feasting on each defender alive to web 24 factors! The one factor that stopped Wembanyama was foul hassle, however Vassell put up ten simple factors himself to assist the Spurs preserve tempo. Whereas Embiid continued to envelop the encircling people, McDermott countered with two threes of his personal. San Antonio left one among its finest performed quarters of the season up 35-34.
Three Wembanyama dunks to start out the second body helped his group match the Sixers blow-for-blow. Paul Reed mauled a number of Spurs to tip residence a miss, inflicting an indignant Pop timeout. Julian Champagnie confidently hit a 4-point play. Even after yet one more Embiid bucket, Wembanyama posted him up on the different finish, and deftly flipped a finger roll casually across the 300-lb MVP. The Spurs went into the break down 58-62.
At first of the third, Wembanyama and Embiid engaged in a recreation of ‘something you do, I can do higher’ – Embiid caught a jumper, then Wembanyama beat him down the court docket for a reverse lay-in. Philadelphis prolonged its lead behind alternating doses of Embiid and Maxey. Embiid shot previous the 50-point mark practically midway by the stanza. After Wesley doinked a floater, he took the rebound and located McDermott crosscourt for a 3. The bench made a mini-run, however Embiid’s three put San Antonio down 15 heading into the fourth.
Wembanyama picked up a delicate fifth foul within the opening moments of the fourth. Wembanyama and Vassell had been capable of carve into the deficit barely. Upon Embiid’s return halfway, Philadelphis resumed funneling its offense by his broad shoulders, and he handed the 60-point mark seconds later. Tre Jones suffered what gave the impression to be a regarding decrease leg harm throughout a Sixer transition.
The 185-pound Wesley managed to degree the 290-pound Embiid to the ground on a decide, incomes him a Flagrant-1. Regardless of Embiid’s fireworks, Vassell’s corkscrew layup introduced them inside 9, however San Antonio would come no nearer than that.
For the 76ers fan’s perspective, please go to Liberty Ballers.
The Spurs return residence Wednesday night time to tackle Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in a nationally televised ESPN recreation at 8:30 PM CDT.
