The Sixers have improved to 7-1 on the season.
Despite Bradley Beal dropping a career-high 60 points, the Sixers were able to walk away with their fifth consecutive win Wednesday evening, improving to a league best 7-1 on the season. It wasn’t the prettiest of games at times, but Philly got it done nevertheless.
Here are my three biggest takeaways from the victory:
Embiid for MVP
Joel Embiid entered tonight’s game as Bleacher Report’s top MVP favorite. Following an absolutely dominant win over Washington, that spot should only be further solidified.
Embiid started off the evening slow, scoring just one point in the first quarter, but ended up exploding for a season-high 38. He also recorded eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, three blocks, and was a perfect 13-13 from the free throw line.
The most impressive part about Embiid’s performance was his ability to close down the ballgame late. Joel had 11 points in the fourth quarter, and had an absolutely sensational assist to Ben Simmons to essentially seal the deal. MVP type stuff for the big man down the stretch.
Doc Rivers made adjustments…eventually
It took Doc Rivers three full quarters of watching Beal light up his defense before he finally decided to mix things up, but he did in fact make the appropriate moves in the fourth quarter. Beal only scored two total points in the fourth, despite the Wizards best efforts to get him the ball. The Sixers ability to finally silence him was the other main reason (outside of Embiid being great) they were able to secure the win.
Rivers oddly left Simmons off of Beal tonight, a move that surprised most people. Regardless, the team got the stops on the Wizards’ go-to scorer when it mattered most.
Seth Curry continues to impress.
With all the attention on Embiid and Beal, Seth Curry‘s best night as a Philadelphia 76er somewhat quietly went under the radar. He finished the game with 28 points on 11-14 shooting, pouring in six threes from beyond the arc.
Curry keeps looking better and better, and his role is starting to increase as well. He’s not just a standstill shoot, he’s a guy who can run the pick and roll with Joel, and even create his own shot at times. The decision to swap Josh Richardson for Curry is going to go down as one of the best moves from this past offseason. Daryl Morey has to be thrilled with how it’s all playing out.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
