Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers to their next victory against Dennis Schröder’s Toronto Raptors and is walking in the footsteps of a real NBA legend.
The in-form 76ers won 121:111 against the Toronto Raptors on Friday evening (December 22, 2023, local time). The once again outstanding Joel Embiid played the biggest role in Philly’s eighth win from the last nine games. Last season’s MVP scored 31 points despite an injury, meaning the Cameroonian has now scored at least 30 points in 14 games in a row.
Embiid on the trail of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Embiid’s streak is the longest in the league since that of James Harden, who even scored at least 30 points in 32 games in a row in the 2018/19 season. Embiid also collected 10 rebounds and had a 30-10 record in the box score for the 13th time in a row, i.e. at least 30 points and 10 rebounds or assists in a game. The last time NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had such a series was when he went 30-10 in 16 games in a row in the 1971/72 season.
The 29-year-old Embiid was already bent over in the first quarter, but he fought through it and finally turned it around. The center also contributed ten rebounds and nine assists. His teammates Tobias Harris (33 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) and Tyrese Maxey (33, 8, 7) were also in strong form.
For the Raptors, playmaker Dennis Schröder showed an average performance with six points, three rebounds and six assists. Toronto is in twelfth place in the Eastern Conference with 11:17 wins, while Philadelphia is in third place (20:8).
Dallas without Doncic – slap in Houston
The Dallas Mavericks suffered a tough defeat at the Houston Rockets without superstar Luka Doncic, who injured his thigh. The team from Texas, which still has to do without German power forward Maximilian Kleber (toe injury), lost 96:122 (39:56). Dallas is currently in seventh place in the West with 16:12 wins.
Eight three-pointers for Warriors – Curry with a season record
Stephen Curry set a personal record for the current season with eight three-pointers in his Golden State Warriors’ 129:118 (63:61) win against the Washington Wizards. The two-time MVP totaled 30 points. Just a few days ago, Curry’s super streak of 268 main round games with at least one successful three-pointer was broken.