Joel Embiid scores 51 points as the Sixers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-113
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 20: Joel Embiid #21 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers speak during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Wells Fargo Center on December 20, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. N ((Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images))
PHILADELPHIA - Joel Embiid scored a season-high 51 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers used a big fourth quarter to close out the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 127-113 win on Wednesday night.
Tyrese Maxey scored 35 points as Philadelphia (19-8) won for the seventh time in eight games, bouncing back nicely after a 108-104 loss to Chicago on Monday night.
Minnesota (20-6) got 27 points from Anthony Edwards, 23 points from Karl-Anthony Towns and 21 from Jaden McDaniels. The Timberwolves entered Wednesday night as winners of nine of its last 10 games and possessors of the league's best record.
It was Embiid's seventh career game with at least 50 points. He also recorded his 12th straight game with 30 or more points and 10-plus rebounds. It is the NBA's longest such streak since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it in 16 straight games for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1971-72 season.
The only other players to have 12 or more games of 30-10 in NBA history besides Embiid and Abdul-Jabbar are Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and Walt Bellamy.
A game that was billed as a clash of defensive styles turned toward the Sixers during an impressive display of offensive moves by Embiid in the third quarter. He scored 19 of Philadelphia's 26 points in the period and kept the Sixers in the lead at 90-87 going into the fourth.
Maxey scored 15 points in the final quarter, most of that coming during a five-minute stretch at the beginning of the period when Embiid was on the bench. No other Philadelphia player scored in double figures for the second game in a row.
Philadelphia ended up losing starting guard De'Anthony Melton in the second half with a left thigh contusion.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Return home for a Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
76ers: Host Toronto on Friday night.