Father sees best of Embiid
Joel Embiid put on a show with his father in the stands for the first time this season, collecting 26 points and 14 rebounds while leading the 76ers to a 117-91 win over the New York Knicks last night in Philadelphia.
Embiid’s spin move into a one-handed jam earned a smile and applause from Thomas Embiid, a colonel in the Cameroon military who is visiting from the family’s home country and plans to spend a few weeks with his MVP candidate son. Growing up, Embiid had to convince his father that basketball wasn’t a dangerous game and he didn’t have to abide by Thomas’ wishes of becoming an elite volleyball player.
Embiid was aces against the Knicks. The 7-footer had 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the first half alone. He finished with his NBA-best 21st double-double.
Enes Kanter and Mario Hezonja each scored 17 points for the Knicks. Thunder 100, Cavaliers 83 — Russell Westbrook moved into a tie for third place on the NBA list for triple-doubles with 23 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists, and host Oklahoma City completed a regularseason sweep of shorthanded Cleveland.
Jordan Clarkson led Cleveland with 25 points. The Cavaliers agreed to trade Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz after the team had arrived at Chesapeake Energy Arena, leaving them with only nine players in uniform.
In exchange for Korver, the Cavs will get guard Alec Burks — and his expiring contract — along with two second-round draft picks. Hornets 108, Hawks 94 — Jeremy Lamb scored 22 points, Cody Zeller had a season-high 19 and host Charlotte avenged a loss to Atlanta. The Hawks topped the Hornets 124-123 on Sunday night at home when John Collins blocked Kemba Walker’s shot at the buzzer. But this one wasn’t close. Bucks 116, Bulls 113 — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Khris Middleton made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left to lift host Milwaukee over Chicago.
Jazz 101, Nets 91 — Donovan Mitchell returned from a two-game absence with 29 points, taking over down the stretch and leading visiting Utah to a win over Brooklyn. Mavericks 128, Rockets 108 — Rookie Luka Doncic and Devin Harris each scored 20 points, and visiting Dallas beat Houston despite a triple-double by Rockets star James Harden.
Harden had 25 points, 17 assists and 11 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for a team missing injured Chris Paul. Pelicans 125, Wizards 104 — Anthony Davis had 28 points and 15 rebounds as host New Orleans stemmed a four-game slide with a 1 victory over Washington. Timberwolves 128, Spurs 89 — Robert Covington scored 21 points, Karl-Anthony Towns and Derrick Rose each had 16 and Minnesota shut down San Antonio in Minneapolis.