Wizards have no answer to blitz
JOEL Embiid, Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers pushed aside the short-handed Washington Wizards in a hurry.
Embiid had 16 points and 15 rebounds, Simmons added 13 points and 10 assists and both Philadelphia stars sat for the final quarter and a half in the 76ers’ 123-98 victory over Washington yesterday ( NT time).
TJ McConnell scored 15 points to help the 76ers win their third in a row and seventh in the last eight. They improved to 12-1 at home.
The 25-point win followed a season-high 26-point home blowout of the Knicks in a 117-91 on Thursday.
Philadelphia took large leads in many triumphs this season only to see teams make it close late. Nine of the 76ers’ 16 wins have been by six points or less.
“It’s great for the team,” Embiid said.
“Early in the season we had problems (holding large leads). I’m hoping we corrected it.”
Bradley Beal had 19 points for the short-handed Wizards. They have lost two straight. Washington once again played without Dwight Howard.
He’s expected to miss two to three months after undergoing spinal surgery on Friday to relieve pain in his glutes. The Wizards also didn’t have starter Otto Porter Jr, who was out for personal reasons.
“They outplayed us,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. “They’re a talented team. You have to have your entire roster to give yourself the best chance.”
The first half was full of highlights for Philadelphia, which led 68-46 at the break.
Embiid drained a threepointer after a no-look, between-the-legs pass from Simmons early in the first; Simmons finished a drive with a dunk after a no-look, over-the-shoulder dish from McConnell with 4 1/2 minutes left in the first; and Simmons brought down the house with an alley-oop jam after an assist from Furkan Korkmaz.
“They were making shots, moving much faster than us,” Brooks said. “They were clicking.” Philadelphia led by 35 in the second half, and the hosts finished the third period ahead 98-70. By then, Simmons and Embiid were resting comfortably on the bench while the reserves put the finishing touches on the 76ers’ fifth straight win over Washington in Philadelphia.
“That was a good team effort,” Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said.
Simmons and Jimmy Butler sported matching white head bands as a sign of solidarity.
“They are defensive brothers,” Brown said.
“They’re blood brothers. That band, to me, signifies a bonding, a defensive bonding.
“I’ve asked Jimmy to put Ben under his wing and really help Ben be all he can be defensively.”