Embiid scores high in 76ers win against Spurs

He made 21 of 23 free throws and was 24 of 41 from the field, including 1 of 2 from 3-point range. Embiid recorded a career-high 18 rebounds as well. With 1:41 remaining, he made a layup to surpass Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain’s 76ers record of 68 points, which was set on December 16, 1967.

“I was really upset with myself because I hadn’t been hitting a lot of easy shots this season,” he admitted.

When Chamberlain hit the NBA record with 100 points, he was a player for the Philadelphia Warriors.

Embiid remarked, “Wilt obviously accomplished a great deal of things.” It’s kind of amazing to be having the same conversation. It truly was an amazing evening. Having a good time. I simply finished the ball that they kept passing to me.

Embiid, the current MVP of the league and a six-time All-Star, has scored 30 points or more in 21 straight games. The 76ers are on a 6-game winning streak.

“I just asked my teammates to please not push it,” he remarked. “Just let’s have some basketball. All we were doing was trying to act the part.

In the first meeting between the 7-footers, rookie Victor Wembanyama finished with 33 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes of play. The Spurs, who are rebuilding, lost 5-19 away from home.

Wembanyama remarked of playing against Embiid, “It’s inspiring, especially offensively.Naturally, that would have been more enjoyable in a victory.””

After three quarters, Embiid had tied his career best of 59 points and returned to the game with 6:38 remaining and Philadelphia up 118-104. The 76ers were giving him the ball whenever possible as they were closing in on the record.

According to Embiid, “the game was still pretty close.” “I had the urge to go back in.” As soon as I was back inside, I thought, “This is my chance.” So why not just go ahead and do it?

Nick Nurse, the first-year coach of Philadelphia, was astounded by Embiid’s performance.

“Obviously, he has a lot of ways to score.. His size alone gets him a lot of things around the basket and a lot of free throws,” Nurse remarked. The talent component is the shooting touch. Anything can happen, I suppose, given his skill, stature, motivation, and movement style.

With 64 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded the previous NBA record-setting performance.

After the game, Embiid hugged and later complimented former 76ers coach Brett Brown, who is currently an assistant with the Spurs.

Embiid remarked, “He’s done a lot—not just for me, but for the entire city of Philadelphia.” “I’m happy that I completed it in front of him so he could see the finished result of his creation.”

Embiid and Wembanyama drew attention even before the game began as spectators gathered to watch the French sensation for the Spurs warm up. Embiid’s abilities are already known to the home crowd, so it’s possible that the Philadelphia star wanted to make certain they remembered.

Before the game, Nurse remarked, “It will be interesting for all of us to see for the first time.”

Perhaps a better adjective would have been electrifying.

In the 1:11 mark of the game, Embiid made a 13-footer over Wembanyama. With 6:27 remaining in the first quarter, the Spurs rookie made two 3-pointers in a span of 27 seconds, followed by an alley-oop dunk, before being sent to the bench for two fouls.

Before the game, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made light of the fact that his team’s strategy against Embiid was to “hammer his (butt).” I instructed Wemby to simply toss him through the rim after backing him down over it.

However, it was immediately apparent that nothing would work. Embiid scored 24 points in the first quarter on 8 of 12 shots.

Wembanyama left an impression on Embiid.

“Man, he’s awesome,” Embiid exclaimed. “He has everything—skill, size, everything. bright future. He’s quite competent already. He will cause a lot of issues for many players in this league as he matures.

It is after he retires, Embiid hopes.

“Hopefully he will smash all these records when I’m out of the league and I don’t have to guard him,” he remarked.

Philadelphia 76ers are now 29-13 in their record  and are 3rd seed in their Conference https://x.com/NBA/status/1749675401075433902?s=20