Sixers Cruise To 123-98 Win Over Wizards
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Joel Embiid had 16 points and 15 rebounds, Ben Simmons added 13 points and 10 assists and both Philadelphia stars sat for the final quarter and a half in the 76ers' 123-98 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.
T.J. McConnell scored 15 points to help the 76ers win their third in a row and seventh in the last eight. They improved to 12-1 at home.
Bradley Beal had 19 points for the short-handed Wizards. They have lost two straight.
Washington once again played without Dwight Howard. He's expected to miss two to three months after undergoing spinal surgery on Friday to relieve pain in his glutes. The Wizards also didn't have starter Otto Porter Jr., who was out for personal reasons.
The first half was full of highlights for Philadelphia, which led 68-46 at the break.
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Embiid drained a 3-pointer after a no-look, between-the-legs pass from Simmons early in the first; Simmons finished a drive with a dunk after a no-look, over-the-shoulder dish from McConnell with 4 1/2 minutes left in the first; and Simmons brought down the house with an alley-oop jam after an assist from Furkan Korkmaz.
Philadelphia's led by 35 in the second half, and the hosts finished the third period ahead 98-70. By then, Simmons and Embiid were resting comfortably on the bench while the reserves put the finishing touches on the 76ers' fifth straight win over Washington in Philadelphia.
TIP-INS
Wizards: Jeff Green replaced Porter in the starting lineup after being a game-time decision due to lower back soreness. Green got up slowly before exiting to the bench after fouling Simmons and falling hard to the floor with 5:17 left in the first. He had four points. ... Washington's last win in Philadelphia came on March 17, 2016, 99-94.
76ers: G Markelle Fultz will continue to have tests on his right shoulder into next week. Fultz, the 2017 No. 1 overall pick, has missed the last five games. ... Joel Embiid's father, Thomas, was in attendance for the second straight game. ... Embiid had his NBA-best 22nd double-double. ... The teams will play twice more in the regular season, Jan. 8 in Philadelphia and the following day in Washington.
UP NEXT
Wizards: Host Brooklyn on Saturday night.
76ers: Host Memphis on Sunday night.
