Field Level Media
Jan 5, 2018
Joel Embiid scored 23 points and collected nine rebounds, JJ Redick added 21 points and the Philadelphia 76ers routed the Detroit Pistons 114-78 on Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Ben Simmons contributed 19 points and nine assists, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot scored 13 points while Dario Saric and Robert Covington had 11 each for the 76ers, who won their fourth straight game and returned to .500 at 19-19. Simmons scored in double figures for the 33rd time this season while Embiid scored at least 20 points for the fifth consecutive game and the 22nd time this season.
The Sixers beat Detroit for the third time this season.
The Pistons played without guard Reggie Jackson (sprained right ankle) and it was obvious how much they missed him.
Tobias Harris led the Pistons (20-17) with 14 points while Ish Smith and Langston Galloway added 11 apiece. Andre Drummond had 10.
With the Sixers leading by 36 points heading into the fourth quarter, both teams emptied their bench for the entire final stanza.
The Sixers pulled ahead 69-35 in the early minutes of the third before the Pistons reeled off nine straight points. Since the Sixers have had trouble hanging onto leads all season, coach Brett Brown called timeout to halt the run.
Covington hit his third 3-pointer to put the Sixers up 87-50 with 3:59 left in the third quarter.
Amazingly, the Sixers led 94-54 for their largest advantage all season and there was still more than an entire quarter to play. The Sixers' 36-point lead through three quarters was the team's largest through 36 minutes since Feb. 20, 2008 against the New York Knicks.
Simmons knocked down his first five shots and the Sixers bolted to a 42-15 lead early in the second. The advantage swelled to 32 on a pair of occasions.
Philadelphia led by 30 points, 62-32, at halftime for its largest advantage since 2012 at the break.
Simmons and Embiid had 15 points apiece, though Embiid was clearly grimacing with his sore right hand as the Sixers went into the locker room.
The Pistons' first half output was their lowest of the season.
-- Field Level Media
--Field Level Media