The surging Philadelphia 76ers will look for their seventh consecutive victory when they host the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
The Sixers crushed the Charlotte Hornets 135-82 on Saturday.
Reigning MVP Joel Embiid led the way with 42 points and 15 rebounds in 30 minutes. It was the 10th straight game Embiid compiled at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, an ongoing franchise record, as the Sixers dealt the Hornets their worst defeat in franchise history.
“I thought they played pretty good defense,” Embiid said of the Hornets. “I just got (ticked) off at the beginning of the game because there was a clear foul that I didn’t get. I was going to be aggressive anyway, but the fact that I didn’t get it, I really got to go harder. And I tried to be more aggressive so I either score or I get fouled.”
Said Sixers coach Nick Nurse: “I just think he’s just really feeling confident about it. Obviously, I love the rhythm he is taking it in. It hits his hands, it’s going up.”
Also included in the victory was an all-around performance by Tyrese Maxey.
In Philadelphia’s previous two victories, Maxey shot 9 of 29 from the field and 1 of 12 from 3-point range. He scored 21 points against the Hornets on 8-of-13 shooting and went 5-for-8 from beyond the arc.
“Just being aggressive,” Maxey said. “Going out there, no matter what, make, miss, or if I’m finding somebody to get an open shot, just trying to go out there and continue to lead that second unit or that next group and us being aggressive defensively really helped us get out in transition, get guys some open looks, too, so it was good.”
The Bulls will arrive in Philadelphia following a split of two games on the road against the Miami Heat.
Chicago won 124-116 on Thursday and then fell 118-116 in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday when former Bull Jimmy Butler hit a step-back jumper as time expired.
DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 27 points, Patrick Williams scored 25 and Coby White had 22. Torrey Craig contributed 16 and Nikola Vucevic had 12 points and 11 rebounds in the balanced effort.
Chicago coach Billy Donovan was frustrated with the defensive rotation on Butler’s game-winner over White.
“He obviously got to his spot,” Donovan said. “I think we can certainly learn something from that.”
Alex Caruso was out for the Bulls with a sprained left ankle and Craig injured his right heel and didn’t play in the second half. Caruso is questionable and Craig is doubtful for the meeting with the Sixers.
“Hopefully, a few days clears it up,” Donovan said of Caruso. “But we don’t anticipate him missing any major time.”
The Bulls continue to compete as trade rumors swirl around injured Zach LaVine and Donovan continues to receive criticism.
Veterans like DeRozan understand that it’s vital to avoid distractions.
“I tell a lot of the young players that you don’t really know what you have,” DeRozan said. “To have such a great personable coach, hard-working coach in Billy, don’t ever take that for granted because it’s not always greener on the other side.”
–Field Level Media
