Joel MBD of the Philadelphia 76ers. (Getty Images via AFP)
NEW YORK – The Philadelphia 76ers scored 41 points in their 50th win of the season in a thrilling 133-120 win over the Indiana pacers on Saturday.
The Sixers, who are battling the Boston Celtics for third seed in the Eastern Conference, have a regular season game left, improving to 50-31 with a win.
Philadelphia could claim third place on Sunday if they beat Detroit at home in the final game of their season and lose their road game against the Boston Memphis Grizzlies.
The MBID has already produced another impressive performance that boosted its claim to the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award, finishing with 20 rebounds and four assists in addition to its 41-point haul.
MBD, however, later downplayed its statistical contribution.
“I’ve always said, I want to dominate, and domination can show in different ways,” MBD said. “Sometimes it’s in the numbers, and sometimes the numbers don’t show it.”
Although Embid defensively said the Sixers “have a long way to go”, he believes the team’s balanced offensive performance on Saturday is good for next season.
James Harden added 22 points with 14 assists where Tyres Maxi and Tobias Harris chipped in with 18 points in a game that led the Sixers to a final buzz from the start of the first quarter.
“We’re working on what we want to do in the playoffs,” MBD said. “It simply came to our notice then. The ball has just moved, the right guy has been found, everyone has been touched.
“And that’s how we have to play if we want to be successful in the playoffs.”
Mbid, meanwhile, said it was uncertain whether he would play in Sunday’s final game of the season.
“I want to play but at the same time it’s a back-to-back and we have to be ready for the playoffs,” said MBD.
“I’m going to see how I feel. But I want to play. I think we still have to work with distance and chemistry, so what we can get out of these last few games will be good. “
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France Media Agency
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