Joel Embiid is dominating opponents nightly — and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Embiid scored 12 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter as the Philadelphia 76ers pulled away from the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans for a 117-107 win on Tuesday night.
Tobias Harris added 33 points for the 76ers, who opened a five-game homestand by winning the 12th of their last 15.
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, shoots the ball over New Orleans Pelicans' Willy Hernangomez, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)
“His dominance is huge for us,” Harris said of Embiid.
Embiid, who finished runner-up in the MVP voting last season, continues to make a push for the award. In the past, Embiid might have rested in games like Tuesday’s against a Pelicans team decimated by injury. But the Philadelphia star recently said the criticism of him missing games — he played in 51 games in each of the last two seasons — caused him to change his diet and mindset in order to play in every game.
Tuesday was his 19th straight game. Philadelphia is 13-6 over that stretch and Embiid is averaging 33.3 points.
Philadelphia 76ers' Tobias Harris, left, gets the ball stolen by New Orleans Pelicans' Nickeil Alexander-Walker, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)
“That was one of my goals, just to be available,” Embiid said. “Don’t plan on stopping.”
And the 76ers really needed Embiid against a gritty bunch of Pelicans backups.
In addition to Zion Williamson, who has been out all season while rehabbing his injured foot, the Pelicans were missing starters Devonte’ Graham (left ankle soreness), Josh Hart (left ankle), Brandon Ingram (right ankle sprain) and Jonas Valenciunas (rest).
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, right, tries to make his move against New Orleans Pelicans' Willy Hernangomez, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 31 points and Willy Hernangómez had 29 for the Pelicans.
The Pelicans started Alexander-Walker, Jose Alvarado, Hernangómez, Herbert Jones and Garrett Temple.
“No moral victories, but we all are extremely proud of what our group did,” New Orleans coach Willie Green said.
New Orleans Pelicans' Jose Alvarado, center, battles for the loose ball with Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, and Matisse Thybulle, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)
After an impressive first half in which they twice had leads of 10 points, the Pelicans kept it close through most of the second half.
But Embiid took over during crunch time in the fourth.
The Sixers were clinging to a 97-95 lead when he re-entered with 7:40 remaining. Harris converted a free throw, finishing a three-point play, to make it 98-95. Then Embiid scored all of Philadelphia’s points during a decisive 10-3 run. His two free throws with 4:03 to play made it 108-98.
That was too much for the Pelicans to overcome.
Embiid finished 12 of 24 from the field and 18 of 20 from the free-throw line. He also had 14 rebounds.
Embiid’s mentality in the fourth?
“Just win,” he said.
New Orleans surprisingly jumped on the 76ers early and kept the momentum throughout an impressive first half. The Pelicans’ lead was 33-23 after Gary Clark’s 3 with 9:12 left in the half and reached 10 again on Alexander-Walker’s 3 with 1:29 remaining. New Orleans was ahead 58-50 at the break.
The 76ers — and Embiid, especially — made it tougher after the break.
“Just being aggressive,” he said, “because in the first half everything was easy for them.”
BROTHERLY LOVE
Green returned to Philadelphia as an NBA head coach for the first time since his playing days as a member of the 76ers. The first-year Pelicans coach averaged 9.4 points in seven seasons in Philadelphia from 2003-10.
“This city, this organization is part of what raised me in the NBA and I’m grateful to have started my career here,” Green said. “Walking through these doors brings back so many memories, great times with my teammates, the staff and the fans.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pelicans: New Orleans announced on Jan. 5 that Williamson, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft, would be rehabbing away from the team while remaining under the supervision of New Orleans’ medical staff. Green said the team remains in communication with Williamson, but that there’s no timetable for his return. “He’s just gotta get healthy and we’ll see what happens,” Green said. “We’ll see where he is here shortly.”
76ers: Seth Curry (ankle), Danny Green (hip) and Shake Milton (back) continued to be sidelined. Curry has missed two straight, Green six in a row and Milton the last 10. Matisse Thybulle returned to the lineup after a five-game absence with a right shoulder injury.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Hart missed a chance for a homecoming of sorts. He played collegiately at Villanova and was the leading scorer for the Wildcats’ 2016 national championship team. The Wildcats retired his jersey during a halftime ceremony during their Jan. 19 game against Marquette. He is averaging career highs in points (13.5) and assists (4.2) along with 7.6 rebounds. ... New Orleans fell to 7-18 on the road.
76ers: Embiid and Georges Niang picked up technical fouls. ... Improved to 11-10 at home. ... Philadelphia won both games in the season series. The 76ers opened the season with a 117-97 win at New Orleans on Oct. 20.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Host Denver on Friday night.
76ers: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
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