PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid has played in all but three games this season for the 76ers, and the Timberwolves benefited from the first of those absences. Embiid missed the teams' previous matchup on Nov. 22 and that led to an easy Wolves win.
But the Wolves had no such schedule luck Wednesday in Philadelphia, where the reigning MVP was playing like it — and maybe getting that kind of whistle, the Wolves might say.
Philadelphia pulled away from the Wolves in the fourth quarter for a 127-113 win on a frustrating night for the Wolves.
Embiid finished with 51 points and exited to a standing ovation (17-for-18 at the free-throw line) while Tyrese Maxey had 13 of his 35 points in a fourth quarter that Philadelphia won 37-26 to put the game away.