When the Chicago Bulls come to Philadelphia on Monday night to begin a home-and-home series, Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers will be looking to continue their disastrous run.
Embiid had 31 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, and two blocks on Saturday as the Philadelphia 76ers (48-22) thrashed the Indiana Pacers 141-121 to secure their season-high-tying eighth straight victory. Considering that the six-time All-Star sat out the entire fourth quarter, those are impressive numbers.
Given that Embiid has scored at least 30 points in a franchise-record nine consecutive games, it’s hard to argue with Carlisle.
However, Embiid wasn’t the only one on Saturday. Tobias Harris had 24 points and 5 rebounds, Tyrese Maxey had 31 points and 7 assists, and De’Anthony Melton had 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals in his place of James Harden (recovering from an injury).
The Philadelphia 76ers are now within striking distance of the Milwaukee Bucks for the Eastern Conference’s top spot thanks to their current winning streak. For the second East spot, the Philadelphia 76ers are 49 points ahead of the Boston Celtics (49-23) in percentage.
Philadelphia has an excellent home record of 26-10; However, on January 6, the Bulls berated their hosts.
Zach LaVine scored 41 points in Chicago’s 126-112 victory over the 76ers, snapping the 76ers’ 11-game home winning streak. LaVine made 11 of 13 attempts from three-point range.
The Bulls capitalized on Embiid’s absence due to soreness in his left foot by putting up a triple-double of 19 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Bulls (33-37) enter the game on Monday having won four of their previous five; Chicago will host Game 2 of the home-and-home series with the 76ers on Wednesday night.
DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and had 10 assists in Chicago’s 113-99 victory over the Miami Heat on Saturday, following his season-high 49-point performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves in double overtime.
Chicago’s balanced attack was led by LaVine, who scored 18 points and had seven assists, Coby White, who scored 18 points and had six assists, and Patrick Beverley, who scored 17 points.
