Joel Embiid put on a historic performance in the 105-98 win against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night. He became the first in league history with at least 50 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five blocks in a game. The big man scored a career-high 59 points and nearly finished the game with a quadruple-double.
During Embiid's postgame interview, Tyrese Maxey excitedly jumped on Embiid's back and slapped his chest before the two exchanged an elaborate handshake and hug. The two then had a playful exchange.
Joel Embiid said: "I missed too many freethrows."
Tyrese Maxey responded: "Yeah, you suck!"
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Joel Embiid explodes for a historic 59 points
In Sunday's 105-98 win against the Jazz, Joel Embiid recorded a career high with 59 points. He finished with 59 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and seven blocks. The Sixers big man nearly put up a quadruple-double performance. Had he done it, he would've been the first player to do so since David Robinson in 2003.
He had a hot start with 13 points in the first quarter. He then continued his scoring assault in the second quarter with 11 points on 80% shooting from the field. In the final quarter, Joel Embiid put up stats we normally see after a full game. He had 26 points and five blocks, proving that he's both an offensive and defensive threat.
Philadelphia 76ers defeat the Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz struggled to maintain their lead against the Philadelphia 76ers thanks to Embiid. The Sixers beat the Jazz in a second-half resurgence with a 105-98 victory. Utah proved to Philly why they are currently the top team in the West after leading the game in the first half.
The Jazz and the Sixers played completely different styles of basketball on Sunday night. Jazz had better cohesion while the Sixers relied on their superstar. None of the Jazz players hit the 20-point mark, but they all contributed evenly. The Sixers reminded them of the harsh reality that having a superstar on the team has its perks.
The loss, their second in as many days, dropped the Jazz (10-5) to third in the West. However, given how the team has been playing this season, they could bounce back soon.
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