Aussie’s career-highs as epic run rolls on; 51-pt ‘statement’, near ‘dunk of year’ stun — NBA Wrap
The Dallas Mavericks’ comeback bid in opposition to the LA Clippers fell brief in a 120-111 loss regardless of one other sturdy exhibiting from Dante Exum to proceed the Aussie’s spectacular NBA return.
Exum scored 16 factors on 6-of-12 taking pictures with six rebounds and two steals in a career-high 40 minutes. It marked seven-straight double determine scoring video games from Exum – additionally a private greatest feat, in keeping with NBA reporter Kane Pitman – nonetheless in a extra outstanding position whereas Dallas offers with accidents to Kyrie Irving and Josh Green.
Watch a mean of 9 NBA Regular Season video games per week LIVE on ESPN, accessible through Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >
Luka Doncic posted a triple-double with 28 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, however is wasn’t sufficient ultimately as the house aspect was outduelled by the Kawhi Leonard (30 factors, 10 rebounds) and James Harden (17 factors, 11 assists) led Clippers.
The Mavericks trailed by as a lot as 22 midway by means of the second time period of Thursday’s contest (all instances AEDT) earlier than they regularly clawed issues again down the stretch of the interval and within the third time period.
Exum’s three-pointer early within the fourth quarter gave Dallas a 95-94 lead – its first because the opening time period – whereas Exum later within the time period received a steal and layup to tie up the scores once more at 100-100.
But the Clippers closed the door on the Mavs contained in the final three and a half minutes after occurring a 14-2 run led by Leonard.
Tyron Lue’s squad, who was with out Paul George (sickness), received its ninth in a row to enhance to 17-10 and declare the Western Conference’s fifth seed from the 16-11 Mavericks.
It comes after the Clippers began the Harden period 0-5 and had been as soon as 3-7 total in a wild resurgence from the as soon as struggling franchise.
EMBIID EXPLODES FOR SEASON-BEST 51 POINTS
Joel Embiid exploded for a season-best 51 factors, and we (very practically) had one of the epic performs of the season in an epic conflict of the massive weapons.
The Philadelphia 76ers pulled away from the Minnesota Timerwolves within the fourth quarter of Thursday’s recreation behind a 51-point explosion from Embiid, who added 12 rebounds in one other dominant efficiency from the star centre.
It marked Embiid’s third-straight recreation with 40-plus factors, whereas he additionally achieved feats unseen for greater than a half-century.
The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player sparked the Sixers (19-8) to their seventh victory in eight video games and snapped the four-game win streak of the Western Conference-leading Timberwolves, who slipped to 20-6.
Embiid turned the primary NBA participant with 12 consecutive video games of 30 or extra factors and 10 or extra rebounds since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1972.
He additionally turned the primary 76er since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967 with three consecutive video games of 40 or extra factors and 10 or extra rebounds.
It was all of the extra spectacular in opposition to a Timberwolves staff that includes a Towns-Rudy Gobert frontcourt that’s ranked No. 1 defensively within the NBA.
“He does it every night so consistently,” 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey mentioned of Embiid. “We expect it of him and he goes out there and performs every single night.”
Embiid mentioned the triumph avenged a loss at Minnesota final month when he was unable to play attributable to a hip damage.
“That’s one of the best teams in the league and the best in the West,” Embiid mentioned. “We felt like we had to get them back and I’m glad everybody just showed up.
“To start the third quarter, we had some rough patches, but we stuck together and we kept pushing and we got the win.”
The 29-year-old Cameroonian 7-footer (2.13m), the NBA’s high scorer with 34.4 factors per recreation, lifted the Sixers to their largest leads within the remaining minutes.
Embiid scored 20 factors within the first half, 19 extra within the third quarter and accomplished the seventh 50-point efficiency of his profession — and second of the season — on a jumper with 1:46 remaining.
Embiid made 17-of-25 photographs from the ground and 17-of 18 free throws whereas including three assists, two steals and a blocked shot in humbling the NBA’s high defensive staff and its large males, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Maxey added 35 factors for the 76ers, forming a lethal duo with Embiid and taking on the scoring slack when the MVP was resting.
“All-Star starter,” Embiid mentioned of Maxey. “He has been doing that all season. Just give him the ball and he has been carrying us every single fourth quarter. You see what happens when he’s impressive.”
Maxey added: “He puts the responsibility on me because he believes in me. I go out there and try to put in the work and help him as much as I possibly can.”
In the second quarter of the competition, Edwards practically threw down an epic poster dunk on Embiid.
Edwards received a chopping move from Karl-Anthony Towns previous a Sixers defender to get a transparent runway to the ring. Only one factor stood in his manner – Embiid.
The Wolves star rose up and flew by means of the air to the ring. But when he threw down the ball, it hit the again of the rim and bounced straight again the opposite manner.
Edwards completed with 27 factors, seven rebounds and 5 assists and Towns had 23 factors and 13 boards.
ELSEWHERE …
Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic scored 31 factors and added 15 rebounds and 6 assists to steer the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets to victory at Toronto 113-104 regardless of 30 factors by the Raptors’ Scottie Barnes.
DeMar DeRozan had 27 factors, 9 assists and 7 rebounds to spark Chicago over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 124-108.
The Bulls had eight double-digit scorers and remarkably improved to 7-3 since Zach LaVine was struck down with damage to proceed their shock resurgence, now sitting 12-17 total.
LeBron James had 25 factors, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, two blocked photographs and a steal for the Lakers, who additionally received 19 factors and 14 rebounds from Anthony Davis.
Julius Randle scored 26 factors and Donte DiVincenzo added 23 to steer the New York Knicks over Brooklyn 121-102 whereas Sam Merrill had 27 factors off the bench to steer Cleveland over visiting Utah 124-116.
Tyler Herro had 28 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists to spark Miami’s 115-106 victory at Orlando.
Buddy Hield scored 25 factors and Tyrese Haliburton added 19 factors and 13 assists in Indiana’s 144-113 dwelling win over Charlotte.
ALL RESULTS
TIMBERWOLVES 113 76ERS 127
HEAT 115 MAGIC 106
HORNETS 113 PACERS 144
JAZZ 116 CAVALIERS 124
KNICKS 121 NETS 102
NUGGETS 113 RAPTORS 104
HAWKS 134 ROCKETS 127
LAKERS 108 BULLS 124
CLIPPERS 120 MAVERICKS 111
