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| 4:00 PM PT5:00 PM MT6:00 PM CT7:00 PM ET23:00 GMT7:00 4:00 PM MST6:00 PM EST3:00 UAE (+1)00:0019:00 ET5:00 PM CTNaN:� , March 20, 2023 Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Attendance: 21,145 |
Bulls brace for Joel Embiid and streaking Sixers
Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers
- Prior to a 126-112 loss in Philadelphia earlier this season, the Sixers had won 12 straight games against the Bulls (April 2019-October 2022) by an average of 11.7 points per game. Chicago had their best three-point outing of the season in the win earlier this year (58.8 percent).
- Chicago shot 56.3 percent from the field in a 113-99 win over the Heat Saturday night, bringing their season-long field goal percentage to 49.1. This would be the best Bulls team shooting performance since the 1991-92 championship season (50.8 percent).
- DeMar DeRozan dished 10 assists with no turnovers in a win over Miami Saturday, his second game this season with at least 10 assists and no turnovers. Only three players in the league have more such games this season (Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Paul, and Tyus Jones).
- The Sixers defeated the Pacers in Indianapolis, 141-121, on Saturday, extending their win streak to eight games and league-leading road record to 22-12 (.647).
- De'Anthony Melton recorded 14 points, five assists and six steals in a win over the Pacers Saturday. He is the first Sixers player with such a game since Ben Simmons in 2017.
- Tyrese Maxey is shooting 54.7 percent (35-for-64) from three over his past 10 games, joining Danny Green in 2021 and Kyle Korver in 2005 as the only Sixers players this century to shoot over 54.0 percent from three with at least 35 threes made over a 10-game span in a single season.
Joel Embiid and the 76ers will look to continue their torrid ways on Monday night when the Chicago Bulls visit Philadelphia to open a home-and-home series.
Embiid collected 31 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and two blocks on Saturday to help the 76ers (48-22) secure their season-high-tying eighth straight win with a 141-121 rout of the Indiana Pacers. Those are impressive numbers for the six-time All-Star, who sat out the entire fourth quarter.
Embiid's performance was so dominant that Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told reporters that he's "probably the MVP with what their team is doing." Carlisle also added that Embiid is "a walking NBA cheat code right now. He's just that good."
It's tough to argue with Carlisle given that Embiid has at least 30 points in a franchise-record nine straight games.
Embiid wasn't alone on Saturday, however. Tyrese Maxey contributed 31 points and seven assists, Tobias Harris had 24 points and five rebounds, and De'Anthony Melton added 14 points, five boards, five assists and six steals in place of James Harden (injury recovery).
"I was really happy," Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. "Everybody contributed. Joel at times was our point guard. He probably had 15 hockey assists, and that was just terrific. Low turnovers. Against a high-scoring team on the road, you had to do that."
Philadelphia's win streak has lifted the club within striking distance of the Milwaukee Bucks for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers are percentage points ahead of the Boston Celtics (49-23) for the second slot in the East.
Philadelphia sports a sterling 26-10 record at home; however, the Bulls were rude to their hosts on Jan. 6.
Zach LaVine sank 11 of 13 attempts from 3-point range to highlight his 41-point performance as Chicago snapped the 76ers' home winning streak at 11 games with a 126-112 decision.
Nikola Vucevic recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists as the Bulls took advantage of the absence of Embiid, who sat out with soreness in his left foot.
The Bulls (33-37) enter Monday's game having won four of their last five games; Game 2 of the home-and-home with the 76ers will be Wednesday night in Chicago.
DeMar DeRozan followed his season-high 49-point performance in Chicago's 139-131 double-overtime victory vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday with 24 points and 10 assists in a 113-99 win over the Miami Heat on Saturday.
"We haven't had a lot of moments like that this year, quite honestly. You've got to lean into it," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said of his team's recent winning ways. ... "This was a hard back-to-back, quick turnaround. Hopefully we can learn and grow from this and get better as a group."
LaVine collected 18 points and seven assists, Coby White had 18 and six, respectively, and Patrick Beverley added 17 points to pace a balanced attack for Chicago.
"We came in understanding that was a must-need win," Beverley said. "We didn't want to come out in mud; we wanted to throw the first punch, and we did. They responded like any good team would, and our first punch was real heavy. That led to a win."
--Field Level Media
Updated March 20, 2023
@STATS_Insights
