Joel Embiid returns, lifts Sixers past Timberwolves

Tobias Harris scored 32 points and Joel Embiid added 24 in his return from a 10-game absence to lift the host Philadelphia 76ers to a 122-113 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, April 3 (Sunday, April 4, Manila time).

Embiid added 8 rebounds and 3 blocks in his first game since sustaining a bone bruise in his left knee during a 127-101 win over the Washington Wizards on March 12.

Shake Milton and Ben Simmons each had 14 points and Seth Curry chipped in 13 for the 76ers, who have won 12 of their last 15 games. Philadelphia shot 50.6% from the floor and 42.9% from three-point range to win its eighth straight meeting with Minnesota.

Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 39 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out for the tumbling Timberwolves, who have dropped 7 of their last 9 games. Rookie Anthony Edwards added 27 points, marking the fifth consecutive contest that he has scored at least 20 points.

Philadelphia broke open a close game at halftime by scoring the first 13 points of the 3rd quarter to take a 77-60 lead. Danny Green and Curry each made a three-pointer to highlight the surge for the 76ers, who withstood a brief Timberwolves’ rally before pushing their advantage to 18 points late in the quarter.

Minnesota scored 10 straight points to bridge the 3rd and 4th quarters and trim the Philadelphia lead to 97-88. Edwards’ dunk pulled the Timberwolves within 4 with 2:02 to play, but Harris responded with an emphatic one of his own on the next possession. Harris sank a midrange jumper and Embiid followed up a free throw by blocking Edwards at the rim to essentially preserve the win.

Philadelphia erased a modest three-point deficit after the 1st quarter by scoring 17 of the first 22 points of the second to take a 43-34 lead. Milton drained a three-pointer and 3 more pair of buckets while Embiid scored 5 of his 8 points at the foul line.

Harris’ three-pointer pushed the 76ers’ lead to 55-45 with 4:35 remaining in the 2nd quarter before Minnesota responded with a 15-9 run to close the half. – Rappler.com