Field Level Media
22 Feb 2020, 07:25 GMT+10
Change of venue, change of fortune for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Such has often been the case for the topsy-turvy 76ers, who answered a disastrous four-game road trip by winning all four games on their recent homestand.
The Sixers aim to match a season-high winning streak and snap a five-game road skid Saturday night when they visit the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks. The game begins a stretch of six of eight away from home for Philadelphia, which owns a 9-19 road record.
All-Star center Joel Embiid collected a season-high 39 points and 16 rebounds on Thursday as the 76ers posted a 112-104 overtime victory against the Brooklyn Nets. The 25-year-old also made 18 of 19 foul shots and had two key blocks to highlight the team's 26th victory in 28 home games.
An impressive performance to be certain for Embiid, who apparently was quite taken with his accomplishments.
"(Participating in) the All-Star Game, just proving I'm here, I belong, and being the best player in the world, I just intend to keep coming out every single night and just play hard and trying to get wins and just go out and try to win a championship," Embiid told reporters after the game.
While some people might take issue with his claim of being the "best player in the world," Embiid was the best player on the court Christmas Day in Philadelphia's 121-109 win over Milwaukee. He had 31 points and 11 rebounds in that encounter before making just 6 of 26 shots in a 112-101 setback to the Bucks on Feb. 6.
Fellow All-Star and reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo responded with 36 points and 20 rebounds in the most-recent meeting with the 76ers.
Antetokounmpo wasn't far removed from those gaudy numbers in the Bucks' return from the All-Star break with 33 and 16, respectively, in a 126-106 win at Detroit on Thursday.
Milwaukee sped to a 70-41 halftime lead and put it on cruise control from there.
"It was big to come off the break and play good basketball and be up almost by 30 at the half," Antetokounmpo said. "We picked up right where we left off."
Where they left off was winning 14 of 15 before dropping a 118-111 decision at Indiana in the final game before the All-Star break. Antetokounmpo sat out that game following the birth of his child.
"We came out and played our game and played with pace and aggression," Milwaukee's Khris Middleton said of the Pistons game, in which he scored 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting. "That's how we have to play the rest of the way."
Middleton, who averages 20.6 points, erupted for 31 points and 12-of-21 shooting on Christmas Day before adding 20 points in the rematch against Philadelphia earlier this month.
Brook Lopez mustered just four points in the most-recent meeting with the 76ers but has averaged 18.3 over his past four games.
Tobias Harris had 22 points, rebounds and six assists on Thursday for Philadelphia, which saw Ben Simmons (lower back tightness) sit out his third contest this season. Simmons is listed as probable for Saturday.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Detroit Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Detroit Star.
More InformationBRUSSELS, Belgium: Meta is holding firm on its controversial pay-or-consent model, a move that could lead to fresh antitrust charges...
LONDON, U.K.: American consumers and businesses could soon face the highest overall tariff burden in more than a century, according...
The family of Sayfollah Saif Musallet, a 20-year-old American citizen who was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the occupied West...
CONCORD, New Hampshire: A federal judge in New Hampshire issued a crucial ruling on July 10 against President Donald Trump's executive...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: A cargo ship flagged under Liberia, known as the Eternity C, sank in the Red Sea following an attack executed by Yemen's...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has started sending some weapons to Ukraine again, just a week after the Pentagon told officials...
BATTLE CREEK, Michigan: In a major consolidation of iconic food brands, WK Kellogg has agreed to be acquired by the owner of Ferrero...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
(Photo credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images) ATLANTA -- Just to participate in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game would be a career...
(Photo credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images) The American League and National League announced their lineups for Tuesday's All-Star...
(Photo credit: Chet Peterman / Special to The Post / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater...
(Photo credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images) The Kansas City Royals placed right-hander Michael Lorenzen on the 15-day injured list...