Joel Embiid scores 37 as 76ers beat Pistons 120-102 for 6th straight victory
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid had 37 points and 11 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers extended their winning streak to six games with a 120-102 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
Buddy Hield scored 18 and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 17 as the 76ers (45-35) continued their push to avoid the Play-In Tournament and stayed in contention for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Embiid added eight assists and played 36 minutes — his most in the four games since his return from a meniscus injury suffered on Jan. 30.
Jaden Ivey scored 25 points and Evan Fournier added 21 for the Pistons, who fell to 13-66 and inched closer to clinching the worst record in the NBA this season.
The Pistons, helped by four Philadelphia turnovers, used a scoring outburst by Ivey and Fournier in the third quarter to cut their deficit to 71-70. However, Embiid and the Sixers' offense kicked into gear and Philadelphia extended its lead to 90-78 by the end of the period.
Philadelphia played without Tyrese Maxey, who scored a career-high 52 in a double overtime victory over San Antonio on Sunday night. Maxey was scratched with left hip soreness, while fellow backcourt member Kyle Lowry missed his second straight game with left knee swelling.
Tobias Harris returned to the Sixers lineup after having a left knee bruise that forced him to miss all three games of Philadelphia's road trip. He scored 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 28 minutes.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Hosts Chicago on Thursday night
76ers: Host Orlando on Friday night.