The Philadelphia 76ers rolled the New Orleans Pelicans 100-82 on Friday night, but don’t let the final score fool you: This one was essentially over from the opening tip.
Joel Embiid was a question mark during warmups due to a sore ankle, but he showed no ill effects of his injury during a 16-point, six-rebound first quarter that ended with the Sixers up 18. And when Embiid (who personally outscored the Pelicans 16-14 in the first 12 minutes) wasn’t having his way with an uninspired New Orleans defense, Ben Simmons (10 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) was blowing past DeAndre Liggins and taking it to the rack.