WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Rookie center Joel Embiid scored a career-high 33 points to lead Philadelphia to a 108-107 NBA victory over the Brooklyn Nets that snapped the 76ers’ eight-game home losing streak on Sunday.
Embiid connected on 12-of-17 from the floor, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 2:43 remaining. He also pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked three shots.
There was a slight scare for the 76ers faithful, however, as Embiid was seen rubbing his left knee at the conclusion.
The 22-year-old from Cameroon has been methodically working his way back from injury after being taken third overall in the 2014 draft. He missed the past two seasons as a result of two foot surgeries.
“I’m great, I’m great,” he insisted, saying the slightly sore knee was “nothing”.
Ersan Ilyasova added 22 points and Robert Covington chipped in 15 for the Sixers, who won for just the third time in their last 13 games.
Brook Lopez had 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Nets, who dropped their ninth straight on the road.
Joe Harris scored 19 points and Jeremy Lin contributed 16 for the Nets.
Ilyasova and backup guard T.J. McConnell each contributed four points to a 13-0 flurry spanning the third and fourth quarters, giving Philadelphia a 94-86 lead with 9:09 left in the game. Brooklyn surged back ahead 98-97 on Lopez’s jumper in the lane with 2:53 remaining.
Embiid then drained his second three-pointer to put the hosts ahead for good.
“Everybody played hard tonight,” Embiid said. “We came and we wanted to focus on our transition defense and I thought we did a better job tonight.”
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