The Philadelphia 76ers improve their league-best home record behind a career high from Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia 76ers came out of the gates firing as they scored 41 points in the first quarter. Joel Embiid, on what would eventually become a career performance, began the game hot, scoring 13 first quarter points.
Both teams played an evenly matched second quarter scoring 28 a piece and resulting in Philadelphia entering halftime leading 69-52.
The third quarter was all on the side of the Atlanta Hawks as they began the quarter on a 23-9 run to cut the lead to three. Trae Young eventually gave Atlanta the lead to enter the fourth quarter as he beat a double-team on the inbound before sinking a forward-leaning three-pointer to push the score to 92-91.
Philadelphia fans are well-versed in the team’s fourth quarter woes this season, but that was not the case tonight. Embiid put the team on his back, alongside a well-rounded performance from Tobias Harris, as Philadelphia outscored Atlanta 38-20 in the final frame.
With the win tonight, Philadelphia has moved to within a half-game of fourth place behind the Miami Heat and will look to close the gap further when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland on Wednesday, Feb. 26.