Google News Joel Embiid: I kept getting the ball and scoring
by | VIEW 220
Joel Embiid insisted he was just happy that his 53-point performance helped the Philadelphia 76ers win against the Charlotte Hornets. On Sunday, Embiid delivered a monster performance versus the Hornets as he scored a game-high 53 points and also had 12 rebounds in a 131-113 win.
With his latest 50-point performance, Embiid became just the third player in 76ers history with multiple 50-point performances in the same season. However, Embiid didn't want to brag about his performance as he simply stated that he was happy that his good play helped his team win the game.
"We won. It's good to do that when you win. I'm just happy that I'm contributing when we are winning," Embiid said, per ESPN. Against the Hornets, Embiid went 20-of-32 from the field and also knocked 11-of-11 of his free-throw attempts.
Embiid caught fire and the 76ers didn't think much where to place the ball. "We have a saying that you have to feed the hot hand. You got to keep feeding them until the defense stops it once or twice or three times in that situation.
I just kept scoring and they just kept giving me the ball," Embiid added.
James Harden on Embiid's performance
Harden also had a double-double as the star guard scored 19 points and dished out 16 assists. Harden kept feeding Embiid and the star center kept getting buckets.
"He was in attack mode for the entire game. He made scoring look easy tonight. He was aggressive getting to the basket and his jumper was falling," Harden said of Embiid. After the game, 76ers head coach Doc Rivers was pleased with how his players managed the game.
"We didn't run, but we played with pace and got open shots,'' 76ers coach Rivers said. The Hornets got off to a solid start as they were up by one after the first quarter. Then, the 76ers won each of the next three quarters and ultimately sealed an 18-point win.
Even though the Hornets lost, Hornets head coach Steve Clifford tried to draw positives after the game. "We had good intent tonight. The first six or seven minutes of the game, we had good defense. Our transition defense was a problem tonight and we have to fix that. Besides Joel, that was the story of the first half. But we did a lot of good things," Clifford said.