Adrian Fedkiw
Joel Embiid got his payback on Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Good thing Robert Covington came through to save the day.
Yes, Robert Covington.
Covington’s go-ahead basket with 0.2 seconds left lifted the Philadelphia 76ers to a 93-91 win over the Timberwolves on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center.
The Sixers led by as many as XXX in what appeared to be a blowout win, but no lead is safe for them and Minnesota charged back when they suffered through a 6:52 field goal drought. Ricky Rubio finally tied the game with a right wing 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left as Ersan Ilyasova failed to close out.
No lead is safe with the Sixers, unbelievable! @AdrianFedkiw pic.twitter.com/Tnd2L1NDCs
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) January 4, 2017
But then Brett Brown drew up a fantastic play on the ensuing inbounds play.
Yes, this happened too.
Embiid set the screen, Dario Saric flicked a perfect overhead pass near the rim and Covington barreled down the lane and finished the alley-oop by laying it in. That’s one way to turn boos into cheers.
Embiid with the screen, Dario with the pass and Covington with the finish to win it!!! @AdrianFedkiw pic.twitter.com/BOzk7nAUNd
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) January 4, 2017
Embiid had 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Check out his highlights below.
Embiid got his payback on Towns and the Wolves. He had 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks, here are his highlights. pic.twitter.com/W5reHTPY8G
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) January 4, 2017
The last time the 76ers and Timberwolves met it was on national television and the Sixers were embarrassed. Philadelphia rested Embiid on the front-end of its back-to-back instead of the back-end because they wanted to showcase their big man to a national audience on TNT, but Towns got the best of the Cameroonian and the Sixers were blown out 110-86 in Minnesota.
The rout led to these comments from Embiid on Monday.
I think it’s payback time. Since that game ended last time, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Tomorrow I’m excited to go up against them again.
Andrew Wiggins posted 35 points and 10 rebounds and Towns put up 25 points and 10 boards in that game, while Embiid recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Towns put up 23 points, 15 boards and five helpers Tuesday in defeat.
The Sixers in 2017 … undefeated.
Undefeated in 2017 #TheProcess pic.twitter.com/PUraSHZgmn
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) January 4, 2017