JOEL Embiid scored 30 points to lead the resurgent Philadelphia 76ers to their fourth straight win by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 116-96 on Saturday.
Current NBA star Embiid, also the reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP), returned to action after a two-month absence due to injury to help the Sixers stun the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The 30-year-old forward continued his stellar form by scoring 29 points in last Thursday’s win at Miami. Embiid then led the way in a blowout win over Memphis on Saturday at home.
Against Memphis, the Sixers immediately showed their best performance, leading from the start of the first quarter to win without losing their lead.
Embiid, who rested most of the fourth quarter because victory was all but certain, had 30 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.
The win allowed Philadelphia to improve their record to 43-35 and remain in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
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Before Embiid’s injury in January, the Sixers were safely at the top of the standings, on track to automatically qualify for the playoffs.
However, in Embiid’s absence, the Sixers have fallen down the rankings and will now have to compete through the play-in tournament following the conclusion of the regular season on April 14.
In other games on Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers picked up their fourth straight win with a blowout 116-97 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are ranked third in the Eastern Conference.
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Point guard D’Angelo Russell was the leading scorer for the Lakers with 28 points, while LeBron James scored 24 points and Anthony Davis scored 22 points with 13 rebounds.
The Lakers’ performance is additional proof that coach Darvin Ham’s team is in top shape towards the end of the season.
The Lakers have now won nine of their last ten games, and still have a chance to get into an automatic playoff spot.
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Currently, the Lakers are in eighth place in the Western Conference with a 45-33 record, just behind seventh-ranked New Orleans (45-32) and Phoenix, who sits in sixth place in the playoffs with a 46-31 record.
Lakers coach Ham said his team was more concerned about the quality of their performance than thinking about their position in the playoffs.
“We remind ourselves every day – whether it’s a game day or a holiday, to take care of ourselves,” Ham said.
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“Everything will work itself out and we’ll be where we need to be. But what’s important for us is playing well on both ends of the pitch. You saw it tonight in our defence; when we keep the ball, we’re a pretty tough team to beat .”
Elsewhere on Saturday, the Brooklyn Nets managed to come back from a 19-point deficit in the second quarter to prevent Detroit from getting their 14th win of the season.
Brooklyn completed a 113-103 victory thanks to a furious fourth-quarter comeback that saw them outscore the Pistons 38-20. (AFP/Z-3)
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