Adrian Fedkiw
After another collapse in the fourth quarter, the Philadelphia 76ers got a chance to redeem themselves in overtime.
That they did.
Ladies and gentleman, the Sixers have won a basketball game!
Joel Embiid had 13 of his 25 points from the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter until the final buzzer and the 76ers held off the Indiana Pacers in overtime 109-105 at Wells Fargo Center on Friday night.
Embiid was just 6-of-18 from the floor, but got to the foul line a ton and finished 12-of-14 from the charity stripe. He also added seven rebounds.
Embiid had 25 points and 7 rebounds. Just 6/18 from floor, but 12/14 from foul line in 109-105 OT win over Pacers. Here are the highlights. pic.twitter.com/DZNOL0l7fb
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) November 12, 2016
The 7’2 Cameroonian struggled for three and a half quarters, settling for some difficult shots to go along with five turnovers. The Pacers were doing a good job of staying down on his pump fake, a move he had been using to perfection over his first couple weeks in the NBA due to his perimeter threat and ability to put the ball on the floor. But started posting up a lot more down the stretch and reaped in the awards.
The win snapped a 43-game losing streak in the month of October and November. The Sixers hadn’t won a game in those two months since Nov. 22, 2013 when they beat the Milwaukee Bucks 115-107, coincidentally also in overtime.
Fellow rookie and No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons was satisfied with his team’s efforts, taking to Twitter to tweet out the following emoji.
??
— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) November 12, 2016
All hail Joel.
After blowing a six-point lead with 1:35 to go in the fourth quarter and a two-point advantage in the final five seconds Wednesday night to the Pacers in Indiana, the Sixers weren’t able to hold a five-point edge in the final 25 seconds in this one. Monta Ellis drove in for a three-point play and Indiana quickly regained possession on Sergio Rodriguez’s turnover. Gerald Henderson then inexplicably fouled Paul George along the left wing with 2.8 ticks on the clock. George sunk both foul shots to tie the game at 100-100.
Unbelievable! pic.twitter.com/8iyiCqhvUz
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) November 12, 2016
Embiid, who had reached his 24-minute threshold in regulation, didn’t see the floor for the first three minutes of the extra session and he was visibly upset about not being out there.
I can't wait for the minutes restriction to get lifted @AdrianFedkiw pic.twitter.com/50Jp7dEWz9
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) November 12, 2016
He checked in with 1:57 on the clock and the Sixers up 105-104.
And he's back! pic.twitter.com/jpBztTfyPZ
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) November 12, 2016
Embiid wound up converting a three-point play with less than a minute to play and sealed the win with a pair of free throws with less than 10 ticks to go.
Ersan Ilyasova posted 14 points and 11 rebounds and Nik Stauskas added 14 points off the bench for the Sixers, who improved to 1-7 on the season.
Sauce with the nice take to the tin, then the left corner 3. He's got 14 points through 3 quarters of play @AdrianFedkiw pic.twitter.com/fe0x7Yq3Qx
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) November 12, 2016
George led the Pacers with 26 points and nine boards.