- Embiid made 24 field goals and 21 free throws on a career-high night
- The reigning NBA MVP is on pace to repeat as the league’s best player
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Joel Embiid scored a career-high 70 points against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
The 70-point effort is also a franchise record, passing Wilt Chamberlain. All of Chamberlain’s performances with more than 70 points came with the Warriors.
The 76ers outscored the Spurs 133-123, with Embiid shooting 24-for-41 from the field.
Embiid added 21 of 23 free throws to reach the elusive 70-point milestone.
Among active players, only Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell have scored more in a game, with both scoring 71 last year.
Embiid scored a staggering career-high 70 points against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday
Before the game started, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich knew that Victor Wembanyama, his star rookie center, could be in for a long night against a top veteran like Embiid.
So instead, Popovich decided to make a hysterical joke.
“We’re going to beat the crap out of him,” Popvich joked about Embiid. “I told Wemby to hold him. Put your butt right in his stomach, back him over the edge and just throw him over the edge. You can look forward to that tonight.’
That obviously didn’t happen, although Wembanyama did score an impressive 33 points when given one of the toughest defensive assignments of his career.
After the win, Embiid was doused with water by his teammates.
Embiid is in the midst of another MVP-caliber season, averaging 35 points and 11.4 rebounds per game leading into Monday’s win.
Timberwolves’ star Karl-Anthony Towns scored 62 points Monday night in a losing effort against Charlotte.