Steph Curry, Warriors Spoil Joel Embiid’s Big Night Beating 76ers

Despite an impressive performance by Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers couldn't overcome the Warriors.

After missing the entire second half of Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls due to calf tightness, Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup on Friday to face the Golden State Warriors.

While his absence in Wednesday’s game ended a streak of 30-plus-point performances, Embiid got right back on track Friday night as he looked to show out in the absence of the team’s star guard, James Harden.

In the Sixers’ last two games without Harden, Embiid and the Sixers found success. Against Steph Curry and a hungry Warriors team, Philadelphia ran into a much tougher matchup.

Embiid got the Sixers going with a first-quarter lead by scoring 13 of the team’s first 27 points. Holding the Warriors to just 23 points, the Sixers entered the second quarter with the lead. 

Throughout the first half of action, the Sixers and the Warriors traded shots from the field, changing the lead over nine times. In the second quarter, Golden State got a slight edge by outscoring the Sixers 32-26. By halftime, the Warriors led 55-53. 

Coming out in the second half, Embiid checked in for the entire third quarter. During that time, he was efficient from the field and the charity stripe draining three of his five field goal attempts and knocking down all but one of his seven free throws.

Embiid would score 12 points in 12 minutes, helping the Sixers rally with a 35-24 quarter to begin the third. Embiid and the Sixers started to pull away with an 88-79 lead going into the fourth quarter, but the Warriors weren’t going out that easy. 

With a little help from the star backcourt duo of Klay Thompson and Steph Curry, the Warriors’ starting guards combined for 15 points in the fourth quarter. The reserve guard Jordan Poole single-handily exceeded their total by going 6-9 from the field, scoring 19 points in 12 minutes. 

A combination of defensive struggles and an inability to trade successful shots from beyond the arc in crunch time left the Sixers losing control late in the game. As Golden State rallied for 41 points, the Sixers didn’t have an answer on either side of the ball as the Warriors executed perfectly down the stretch.

Embiid would finish the game with 46 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and a block, adding another impressive stat line to his MVP campaign. Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris combined for 44 points as well. Unfortunately, the trio couldn’t overcome the Warriors, who handed the Sixers a 120-112 loss. 

Philadelphia now drops to 49-24 on the year as they hit the road to face the Phoenix Suns for the second outing of a back-to-back set on Saturday night. 

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.