Joel Embiid drops 70, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s 76ers record،
PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid said it was “awesome” to be in the same conversation as Wilt Chamberlain after he became the ninth player in NBA history to score 70 points in a game and break the record Chamberlain's 76ers franchise score by 68 points in the process.
“Clearly, Wilt accomplished…everything [in] history of this league and basketball in general,” Embiid said after his 70 points helped the Sixers beat the San Antonio Spurs 133-123 on Monday night. “So to be in the same conversation, it's is pretty cool.”
Embiid finished with 70 points, 18 rebounds and 5 assists, a line that has never happened in NBA history before Monday's game, according to ESPN Stats and Information.
“It was just a great night,” he said. “I did it. I mentioned it a few times, a lot of teammates are extremely unselfish and they kept giving me the ball, and I just finished it.”
Embiid finished it again and again, going 24 of 41 from the field and 21 of 23 from the foul line, finally reaching 70 points when he went coast-to-coast to a lay-up on several defenders. with 1:41 left.
He also had a season record with 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and only 1 turnover in 36 minutes.
Embiid had 24 points in the first quarter, 34 in the first half and 59 — matching his previous career high, set last season at home against the Utah Jazz — after three quarters, when he closed the third with a 3-point takedown. .
“The moment it hit me, I thought, was early in the third,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. “I think he had a bucket and an and-1, like in the first minute. I was like, 'Wait a minute, he already has 37, 38, something like that.' I thought, 'Damn, that's a lot, with a whole half to go.'”
At that point, with Philadelphia (29-13) up 15 after three quarters, it was unclear whether Embiid would have a chance to go for the record or whether the 76ers, as they have several other times this season, would blow the game away. open in the fourth quarter and give Embiid the rest of the night.
But San Antonio (8-35) held on, led by 33 points and 7 rebounds from rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama, and the Wells Fargo Center crowd erupted into a standing ovation when Embiid returned to the 6-man game. :38 from the end.
“The only thing I told my teammates was don’t force it,” Embiid said. “Let's just play basketball. If I'm open, pass it, if I'm not, make sure I make the right play.”
He was immediately fouled on his first offensive possession of the fourth quarter and made both free throws to set a new career high. Then he continued to increase his total as the last frame progressed. The crowd increasingly demanded Embiid shoot at every possible opportunity — to the point where reserve forward Danuel House Jr. was booed for taking an open corner 3.
“It's a shame that Danuel House was booed for [making the right play]” Embiid said with a smile. “We were just trying to play the right way and make the right plays. Obviously I made some shots and they found me a lot.”
Eventually, Embiid tied Chamberlain's record with 1:57 left on a pair of free throws. Then, after Philadelphia got a stop on the other end, he drove across the country for the layup to reach 70 and was knocked out of the game seconds later.
Ultimately, it was just the latest in a string of incredible offensive performances from Embiid, as the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player remains on pace for the best scoring season in the NBA history. In 32 games, he has 1,156 points in 1,096 minutes; This pace of over a point per minute played is something only Chamberlain has ever done in league history.
Embiid, who has won the NBA scoring title in each of the last two seasons, is now averaging 36.1 points this season, three points better than he posted during the campaign winner of the MVP title.
“He’s great,” said Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey, who had 18 points and 8 assists. “I keep telling everyone that we can't take this for granted. Not just as teammates, not as an organization, but as fans…even if you're not not a Philly fan, if you're just a basketball fan, you can't take Jo for granted, man. What he's doing right now is special.
“He doesn't just do it on layups, he doesn't just do it on 3s. He does it on every single thing. He makes free throws. He does so many things there. And you know, the more interesting is he's on the other end, he also anchors the defense. He doesn't take any nights off on defense. So, you know, we appreciate him, and everyone should l also appreciate.
One person who appreciated Embiid's performance was Wembanyama, who was impressive in his first match against Embiid. He later admitted that playing against Embiid on Monday night was “inspiring.”
“A few years ago, it was more of a guard game,” Wembanyama said. “But now we're getting back to big man play. I think it makes sense game-wise. We have guys, guys all over the league that do a lot of things even though they're really big.
“This is the way the game is changing. Now we have to adapt.”
Embiid has been adapting his game for years and is playing better than ever. This was not only evident since he eclipsed 70 points – something he did without even warming up before Monday's game, as he arrived at the arena late due to traffic – but also because he thought he could have scored even more.
“I feel like when you take 40 snaps, you're obviously supposed to have a great night,” Embiid said. “I was actually mad at myself, because I missed a lot of easy shots that I had made all season. A lot of easy pull-ups.
“But when you take that many shots, which I never thought I would take that many shots in my life, you're obviously going to take some, and you're going to have a great night.”
Embiid's prolific night was nearly matched by Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored a Timberwolves-record 62 points in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Embiid and Towns became the fourth pair of NBA players to each score at least 60 points on the same day and the first since David Thompson (73) and George Gervin (63) in 1978, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
