By Adrian Stewart Co
Philadelphia 76ers widened its gap on the top spot of the Eastern Conference after an easy 118-104 victory over Detroit Pistons in the 2020-2021 NBA Season on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines) at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Joel Embiid top-scored with 29 points, while rookie Tyrese Maxey added 22 markers as the 76ers tightened its hold of top spot in the Eastern Conference with 47-21 win-loss slate.
Dwight Howard added double-double 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Tobias Harris and Daniel Green had 18 and 11 markers, respectively, for the 76ers, which played without rested Seth Curry and Ben Simmons.
The 76ers went to work early with baskets from Embiid, Harris and Howard for a 34-17 lead. The Pistons trimmed it down to 37-45 but Embiid connected consecutive hits to widen 76ers’ lead to 56-43 at the half.
Philadelphia went for the kill in the third period behind three-point baskets by Daniel Green and inside shots by Embiid as the lead grew to its largest at 118-94.
Jerami Grant and Saddiq Bey finished with 14 markers each, while Sekou Doumbouya and Miles Plumlee chipped in 12 points apiece as the Pistons dropped to 20-48.
Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook drained two free throws with a second remaining as Washington Wizards pulled off a 133-132 overtime victory over Indiana Pacers.
Westbrook finished the match with triple-double 33 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists as the Wizards (32-36) overtook Pacers (31-36) at ninth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Bradley Beal led the Wizards offense with 50 points, while Japanese forward Rui Hachimura and David Bertans also hit double figures on offense with 13 and 10 markers, respectively.
BOX SCORE:
PHILADELPHIA 118 – Embiid 29, Maxey 22, Howard 19, Harris 18, Green 11, Hill 5, Scott 5, Milton 5, Thybulle 2, Reed 2, Tucker 0, Joe 0.
DETROIT 104 – Grant 14, Bey 14, Doumbouya 12, Plumlee 12, F. Jackson 11, Hayes 10, Stewart 9, Sirvydis 8, Joseph 5, Okafor 4, Ellington 3, Lee 2, Cook 0.
Quarterscores: 34-17, 56-43, 89-73, 118-104./ASC, WDJ