Joel Embiid totaled 28 points and 12 rebounds in three quarters as the Philadelphia 76ers overcame an extremely early 11-point deficit and rolled to a 123-94 victory over the short-handed Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night in New York.
Embiid made 8 of 16 shots, hit all 10 free throws and played 29 minutes en route to his fourth double-double in 13 games this season.
Playing with Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George for the 10th time this season, the 76ers bounced back nicely from Thursday’s 139-105 loss at Golden State. Philadelphia outscored Brooklyn 123-83 after allowing the game’s first 11 points and won for the 12th time in 19 games since dropping five straight from Nov. 12-20.
Maxey added 18 for Philadelphia, which led by double-digits for the final 29:23 and held the lead for the final 41:39 after a dunk by Embiid. George and Caleb Martin contributed 17 apiece as the Sixers shot 51.2 percent and sank 15 3s in their most lopsided victory this season.
Ziaire Williams led the Nets with 19 points, Tyrese Martin added 16 and Keon Johnson contributed 15 as Brooklyn shot 41 percent and allowed 32 points off 22 turnovers.
The Nets lost for the 12th time in 16 games. The team announced Cameron Johnson sprained his right ankle in Thursday’s win at Milwaukee and will miss the next three games.
Brooklyn also dropped its fifth straight home game after announcing leading scorer Cam Thomas sustained a strained left hamstring Thursday and will be reevaluated after the West Coast road trip Jan. 10-19.
Brooklyn also played without Ben Simmons (left calf soreness) and lost D’Angelo Russell to a bruised right shin at halftime of Saturday’s game.
Embiid picked up a technical foul for shoving Keon Johnson going for a rebound with 8:15 left in the opening quarter, when he scored 15 as the Sixers took a 29-19 lead after allowing the game’s first 11 points.
The Sixers held a 13-point lead when Embiid and George returned with about five minutes left in the second and expanded their lead to 64-47 by halftime.
Embiid hit Maxey with a nice bounce pass for a reverse layup and the guard finished the three-point play for a 72-49 lead less than three minutes into the second half. The Sixers pushed the lead to 91-66 entering the fourth, allowing the center to get a rest.
