Joel Embiid, Sixers handle Rockets 111-91 en route to 7th straight win

Joel Embiid scored 30+ points for the seventh-straight game as the 76ers dominate in Houston, winning by a final of 111-91. They’re now 23-6 overall and have taken full advantage of an easy schedule to start the 2022 season.

The Sixers locked in defensively early on and it allowed them to take a lead they wouldn’t give back. Putting the Rockets away early also led to some “old-school load management” as Doc Rivers likes to call it. The 76ers had six different players in double figures scoring, highlighting their team effort on both ends of the floor Monday night.

Joel Embiid

Continuing this unreal scoring stretch, Joel Embiid broke the 30-point plateau midway through the thrid quarter. It’s starting to look too easy for the All-Star center. He was salivating at the thought of Houston’s front court trying to check him after their matchup last week.

Embiid has been everything for the Sixers’ offense. He has taken over the responsibility of bringing the ball up the floor, running the break, and making live reads from the post while being doubled. The big fella ended the night with 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Extending his road game scoring streak of 30+ points to nine games, setting a new franchise record in the process (pun intended).

A Collective Effort

Outside of Embiid, there were five other players who scored in double figures, but none surpassed 13 points. Furkan Korkmaz was impressive as the faux point guard tonight, shooting 50% from the field and beyond the arc. He is persistent as a driver, and uses his length to get to the rim well. Encouraging performance from him.

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Tobias Harris was fine tonight. It wasn’t necessary for him to be spectacular, so it wasn’t terribly noticeable. He scored 13 points on 6/17 shooting from the field and just 1/5 from deep.

Harris struggled with the athleticism of Houston’s frontcourt, and wasn’t able to find easy buckets. He is also terrible when leading the break, and should be relieved of those duties as soon as possible.

Matisse Thybulle and Isaiah Joe provided solid contribution, each making a pair of threes and being useful defensively. Thybulle has been scoring at a better rate as of late, finishing with ten points. With each passing game, he seems to be getting more comfortable in his role.

Joe spaced the floor well, and while he wasn’t great shooting-wise, he gives the offense a threat from well beyond the arc which they do not normally have.

This was another statement-making win for the Sixers. After being criticized for not blowing out lesser opponents, they have proved they have the capability of stomping out their competition.

Up Next

Looking ahead, the Sixers travel home to face LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday night with a chance to extend their win streak to eight games.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images