Embiid gives 76ers sixth straight win with victory in Cleveland

Joel Embiid starred once more with 38 factors because the Philadelphia 76ers picked up a sixth straight win with a 118-109 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

The 76ers, third in the East only a place forward of the Cavs, had been in a detailed contest till the tip when Tyrese Maxey sunk a three-pointer and Philadelphia put away 5 free throws in the ultimate 51 seconds to safe the win.

That each one got here after Embiid was initially ejected after being referred to as for his sixth foul for pushing off on Evan Mobley with 4 minutes 12 seconds left on the clock.

However 76ers coach Doc Rivers challenged the decision efficiently and whereas he needed to be cautious for the rest, Embiid helped steer his aspect to a major victory.

Embiid, who additionally had 18 rebounds and 4 blocks, stated he had been given the good thing about the doubt by the officers.

The six-times All Star is a contender for this season’s MVP award however stated his focus was elsewhere.

“I’m simply making an attempt to win, to get as many wins as we will and to type of get the group collectively, doing our job. My team-mates are making my job simple. We’re doing it as a workforce,” he stated.

“I’m excited in regards to the post-season however we’ve got numerous video games arising in the common season, we’ve got to take them one after the other and attempt to get higher day-after-day,” he added.

Embiid was supported by James Harden, who had 28 factors, and Maxey, who put up 23.

Philadelphia are actually simply half a recreation behind the second-placed Boston Celtics and personal the tie-breaker over Cleveland.

The Celtics had their work reduce out in Minneapolis towards the Timberwolves, lastly rising with a 104-102 win.

Jaylen Brown put up 35 factors and Jayson Tatum scored 22 with the latter ensuring of the win with two free throws on the finish.

– ‘No matter it takes’ –

The Celtics struggled with their capturing — they had been 40.5% from the sector and 12 of 40 from three-pointers, however their protection delivered sufficient to grind out the win.

“We simply stayed the course. I believe defensively we received the sport,” stated Brown.

“No matter it takes to get a win. Now we have bought to belief one another as team-mates, that’s a part of being a great workforce, we’ve got bought to maintain constructing these habits,” he added.

Elsewhere, Steph Curry erupted for 50 factors however couldn’t stop the Golden State Warriors falling 134-126 to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Curry made 20-of-28 from the sector together with eight three-pointers however the Warriors had been undone on the different finish by a balanced Clippers offense that noticed six gamers in double figures.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers scoring with 30 factors.

The Miami Warmth routed the Western Convention’s third-placed workforce, the Memphis Grizzlies, 138-119.

The Grizzlies stay with out their star guard Ja Morant, who on Wednesday was suspended eight video games after streaming a video of himself holding a gun whereas intoxicated in a nightclub.

The suspension covers the six video games Morant has already missed adopted disciplinary motion from his workforce and he shall be eligible to play once more from Monday.

With out him the Grizzlies discovered themselves down 28 factors on the finish of the third quarter, permitting Miami to relaxation Jimmy Butler, who had made 23 factors, for the fourth quarter.

Bam Adebayo scored 26 and Tyler Herro 24 because the Warmth produced season-best capturing of 59.8%.

The injury-hit Los Angeles Lakers fell to a 114-110 defeat to the Houston Rockets, the underside workforce in the West.

The Lakers had been with out star LeBron James and key man Anthony Davis and shot simply 37.4% from the sector.

Austin Reaves top-scored for the Lakers, coming off the bench to make 24 factors, whereas Kevin Porter top-scored for Houston with 27 factors.

The Dallas Mavericks, with out their injured stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, received a scrappy recreation with the San Antonio Spurs 137-128.

De’Aaron Fox drained a three-pointer with 0.7 seconds left to provide the Sacramento Kings a 117-114 victory on the Chicago Bulls.