RECAP: Philadelphia 76ers 114, Detroit Pistons 78

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 5: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in front of Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons after JJ Redick made a three point basket and was fouled in the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on January 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pistons 114-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 5: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in front of Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons after JJ Redick made a three point basket and was fouled in the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on January 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pistons 114-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Based the back-and-forth between Andre Drummond and Joel Embiid this season, this matchup was centered around them. The game ended up giving Philadelphia 76ers fans way more than that, though.

A blistering hot start, ignited by Ben Simmons‘ aggressiveness and players like Dario Saric actually making three-point shots (!!!), was just the tip of the iceberg Friday night.

In the first half, the Philadelphia 76ers made approximately 1,057 shots to go out to a crushing 62-32 lead through 24 minutes. Their lead, for once, was insurmountable.

Pistons dual coach/GM Stan Van Gundy, the human form of the “win now, rebuild never” plan for perpetual mediocrity that Sam Hinkie deliberately circumnavigated with The Process, probably had an in-game existential crisis.

In the third, the 76ers went an entire four-minute stretch without giving up a single point. The result was some trash talk from Drummond, resulting in a technical foul for his overrated self.

After four years of continually being on the receiving end of blowouts, most fans will have to double-take at this score before they truly understand it.

If you could imagine a dream game for this unicorn-centric team, it would involve a lot of what the Sixers did tonight. Make shots, let Simmons and Embiid go to work, and win. For the first time in what seems like an eternity, a simple game plan like that can actually succeed.

Next: Will the Sixers target any 10-day contracts?

This makes four straight wins for the young Sixers, who have finally climbed back to .500 after a cold stretch that had everyone wanting Brett Brown fired. Rubbish.