Sixers Bell Ringer: Joel Embiid’s career-high 50 points lifts Sixers over Bulls

Note: No traditional recap post for tonight’s game.

Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:

Joel Embiid - 13
Tobias Harris - 5
Ben Simmons - 5
Shake Milton - 3
Tyrese Maxey - 1
Dakota Mathias - 1
Matisse Thybulle - 1

Earlier this week when Ben Simmons was going off against the Jazz, I joked about how crazy it be if Simmons reached the 50-point plateau before Joel Embiid, whose previous career-high was 49 points. Well, Joel must have heard footsteps, as the big man finally bit into a 50-burger Friday night against Chicago. The Sixers needed just about every one of those points, as the Bulls used a 16-4 run against Philadelphia’s bench to briefly take a 2-point lead in the fourth quarter. Doc Rivers immediately threw some starters back on the court and the Sixers regained control. Still, it remained a one-possession game inside the final two minutes, but Embiid’s heavy lifting down the stretch carried the Sixers across the finish line in the 112-103 win. Now for the Bell Ringer.

Joel Embiid: 50 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks, 2 turnovers

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Joel has had plenty of great performances this season, but when someone is putting the MVP consideration compilation reel together at the end of the year, this game will go towards the top of the pile. Although Wendell Carter Jr. made some shots against Embiid, Joel was very engaged defensively, racking up the stocks, making quick rotations, and doing yeoman-like work on the glass. Offensively, what more can be said? The big man is hitting mid-range jumpers as well as anyone in the league. He gets to the foul line as much as anyone. He powers through defenders when he needs to. He euro-steps them around them like no man over 7 feet tall and 280 pounds has any business doing. Joel capped off his night with a long stepback jumper from the corner to nearly ice the game with 41 seconds left. 17-of-26 from the field. 15-of-17 from the foul line. Only two turnovers against five assists. A generational superstar.

Tobias Harris: 22 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 turnovers

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Tobi was a dependable Goose to Joel’s Maverick offensively, shooting 9-of-16 from the field and racking up a season-high seven assists. Harris proved to be too strong a matchup for his Chicago counterparts, routinely watching Bulls defenders bounce off him on his drives. That strength was on display on one two-handed baseline dunk and the post seal with just under three minutes left in the game that extended the lead back to two possessions. Tobias also had some pretty finds, dishing off to Joel in transition for an easy bucket and finding Matisse from halfcourt for an alley-oop.

Dwight Howard: 8 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover

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Yes, the bench was disastrous, but their on-court time would have been even worse if not for Dwight collecting his teammates’ misses on the offensive glass. Howard continued his hard work down low with four offensive boards and putbacks in traffic, plus found a cutting Furkan Korkmaz with a nice feed for a dunk. Add in the fact that he did not turn the ball over and only committed one personal foul, and it was a banner night for the Sixers’ backup center.