Joel Embiid scored 42 points in just three quarters as the Philadelphia 76ers blew out the host Charlotte Hornets 135-82 on Saturday night.
Embiid shot 18-for-23 from the field and 6-for-6 on free throws to go with 15 defensive rebounds and two blocked shots. It was the sixth consecutive game that the NBA scoring leader led the 76ers in scoring.
Tyrese Maxey poured in 21 points to go with seven assists, Tobias Harris racked up 15 points and ex-Hornet Kelly Oubre Jr. came off the bench for 12 points as Philadelphia extended its winning streak to six games. The last five of those games ended with double-figure margins.
The 76ers led 100-59 through three quarters, so Embiid, who logged 30 minutes, and several other Philadelphia players were no longer needed.
The Hornets were again without injured starting center Mark Williams. Nick Richards and Nathan Mensah, who was playing in his second NBA game, were no match for Embiid in the lane.
Brandon Miller had 14 points and Bryce McGowens provided 12 points for the Hornets, who’ve lost four in a row. Charlotte shot 7-for-35 (20 percent) from 3-point range and gave up more than 30 points in three different quarters.
Maxey went 5-for-8 on 3-pointers. The 76ers shot 60.2 percent overall from the field, so that might have accounted for the team collecting only five offensive rebounds. Danuel House Jr. had 10 points in a reserve role.
Philadelphia’s lead was 73-44 at halftime after the 76ers poured in 40 second-quarter points. The 76ers took control right away by bursting to a 19-5 lead.
Charlotte, which lost for the second night in a row on its home court, also played without forwards Gordon Hayward and PJ Washington. Guard Terry Rozier left the game after he was hit in the face, finishing with six points after scoring 20 or more in the previous seven games.
–Field Level Media