Story By: Sol Tucker
Photo By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
Just when it looked as if the Wizards were going to be able to break free of this horrendous start and grab a much-needed W tonight, that’s when Joel Embiid went to work.
Embiid, who is the reigning KIA NBA MVP, certainly didn’t fall short of that again as he finished with 50 points on 9 of 24 from the field, making a 3-pointer on two attempts, and hit 11 of 13 free throws. He also had seven assists and six turnovers. This is the same Embiid that missed the past two games with an illness as well.
“He should have had 60,” his Sixers teammate Tyrese Maxey joked about Embiid’s night.
For the Wizards one of the most well-rounded box scores of the season won’t show much for this 131-126 loss, because it is just that, another loss.
For what it worth this game was more than one the Wizards could have won the final minutes.
Trailing 99-95, the Wizards opened the fourth quarter with a 5-0 run to retake the lead in a game that featured 22 changes and 13 ties. But after leading 102-101 with 8:48 remaining, the 76ers pushed the advantage to eight and held on.
Washington cut it to 122-119 on Jordan Poole’s 3-pointer with 2:17 remaining, but it was the closest the Wizards would get. Poole has now scored in double figures in 18 of 19 appearances this season and 20+ points in six total games, including in four of his last seven outings.
It’s actually hard to believe the Wizards had a 10-point lead in this game and shot 40 percent from long range and still managed to come up short late in the fourth quarter.
With the loss tonight, the Wizards fall to 1-7 at home and face the Nets in Brooklyn on Friday night.
