Joel Embiid scores 44 as Sixers beat Cavs to clinch playoff spot

Joel Embiid had 44 factors and 17 rebounds, James Harden recorded his second triple-double with Philadelphia and the 76ers locked up a playoff spot with a 112-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night time.

Embiid was questionable coming into the sport with a sore ankle. However not solely did the 7-footer play, Embiid dominated down the stretch, scoring 12 factors in a key sequence of the fourth quarter.

He additionally made 17 of 20 free throws, added 5 blocks and three assists in 38 minutes of one other MVP resume builder. Embiid additionally made three 3-pointers.

Harden had an off-shooting night time (4 of 13), however completed with 21 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Darius Garland scored 23 and Caris LeVert and Lamar Stevens had 18 apiece for the Cavs, who performed with out injured 7-footers Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

Cleveland, which is attempting to hold onto the No. 7 play-in spot, was nonetheless inside 109-106 after Harden made two free throws with 11.2 seconds left.

However Kevin Love made a careless inbounds move that was stolen by Matisse Thybulle, who then made a move from a sitting place to a streaking Tobais Harris for a game-sealing dunk with 7.2 seconds left.

Nothing got here simple on offense for the Sixers, who made 21 3-pointers and scored a season-high 144 factors in a win over Charlotte on Saturday. However Embiid bailed his teammates out with the form of efficiency that has come to be anticipated from the All-Star.

TIP-INS

76ers: Tried 42 free throws. … F Paul Millsap, a 15-year veteran, has solely performed eight minutes within the final 5 video games. Millsap has solely appeared in 4 video games since DeAndre Jordan was signed on March 3. … Philadelphia performs three of its last 4 regular-season video games on the street. … Coach Doc Rivers had excessive reward for Cavs guard Rajon Rondo, who performed for him in Boston. “The brightest participant I’ve ever been round,” Rivers mentioned. “He saved us (coaches) on our toes.”

Cavaliers: Rondo (ankle) performed for the primary time since March 12. … Allen missed his fifteenth straight sport and Mobley sat his fourth in a row. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff mentioned each are bettering, however didn’t say when — or if — both shall be again earlier than the common season ends in every week. … Garland is one in all three gamers among the many NBA’s high 10 in each assists and minutes. Harden and Dallas’ Luka Doncic are the others. … Love has performed in a team-high 71 video games, 66 off the bench.

EM(BIID)-VP TALK

Rivers has been campaigning for Embiid to win MVP honors this season amongst a bunch of worthy candidates. For the Sixers coach, Embiid’s passing, protection and management are neglected components of his well-rounded sport.

“I do know he is my man, clearly,” Rivers mentioned. “He has simply has executed so many issues.”

Rivers credit Embiid for pulling the Sixers by “the Ben Simmons saga.”

“He was our second-best participant on the time and was out, and on the All-Star break after we made the commerce, we had been a sport out of first place within the East,” Rivers mentioned. “There’s loads to be mentioned about that.”

UP NEXT

76ers: Play at Indiana on Tuesday.

Cavaliers: Go to Orlando on Tuesday.