76ers' Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey torch Wolves

Duo combines for 86 points in Wednesday's win over Minnesota.

Even as his team touted the NBA's best record, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch warned that Minnesota needed to fix its slow starting problem, and fast, especially with one of the NBA’s best teams, the Philadelphia 76ers, on its schedule Wednesday.

While Finch’s Timberwolves turned in a better start Wednesday — they avoided falling into an early hole and played a neck-and-neck game in Philadelphia through three quarters — the finish cost Minnesota this time. 

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey put the finishing touches on their dominant performances in the fourth quarter as the 76ers pulled away for a 127-113 victory.

"Everything kind of dried up for us there in the fourth," Finch told reporters in Philadelphia postgame. "We didn't play a very clean or pretty game, but I thought we were hanging in there and I thought we would find a bit of a run or a rhythm. And unfortunately, we weren't able to do so," 

The duo of Embiid and Maxey combined for 86 points. Embiid had an MVP-type performance with 51 points and 12 rebounds, and Maxey tallied 35 points and five assists. They were the only two players to finish in double figures for the 76ers (19-8).

They tormented the Wolves (20-6) all night, hitting shot after shot and knocking down free throw after free throw. Embiid had 18 shots from the charity stripe Wednesday, hitting 17 of them.

"When someone goes to the line 18 times and makes 17 of them, that's a highly efficient offense," Finch said. "It's tough to overcome." 

Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 27 points and had seven rebounds and five assists. Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Jaden McDaniels scored a season-high 21.

Final key stats

• Joel Embiid: 51 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
• Tyrese Maxey: 35 points, 5 assists, 1 rebound
• Anthony Edwards: 27 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
• Karl-Anthony Towns: 23 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists
• Jaden McDaniels: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
• Naz Reid: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block