NBA: Joel Embiid shines in return as 76ers maul Bulls

The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed back two of their biggest stars in emphatic fashion, as Joel Embiid scored 35 points and Paul George added 28 in a dominant 157-137 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

Embiid returned after missing 13 games due to an oblique injury, while George rejoined the lineup following a 25-game suspension absence. Despite still being without Tyrese Maxey, who remains sidelined with a finger injury, Philadelphia showed no signs of slowing down. The Sixers improved to 40-33, delivering one of the most explosive offensive performances in franchise history — their eighth-highest scoring game — and securing their fifth win in the last seven contests.

Chicago, which fell to 29-43, struggled to keep pace, particularly during a disastrous third quarter. The Bulls allowed 51 points in the period — the most they have ever conceded in a single quarter and the highest-scoring quarter by Philadelphia in decades. Josh Giddey led the Bulls with 23 points and 12 assists, while Matas Buzelis chipped in 18 points.

Philadelphia set the tone early, with Embiid erupting for 15 first-quarter points, including three shots from beyond the arc, as the Sixers built a 38-26 lead after one. Rookie VJ Edgecombe provided an early spark as well, scoring 11 of his 22 points in the opening period.

The Sixers maintained control throughout the second quarter, stretching their advantage with an 11-3 run late in the half to go up by as many as 24 points before settling for a 71-52 lead at the break. Giddey scored 10 points in the quarter and shot efficiently, but received little support as his teammates struggled from both the field and three-point range.

Any hopes of a Bulls comeback were quickly erased in the third quarter. Philadelphia delivered a near-flawless offensive display, shooting 19-of-22 from the field and 6-of-7 from deep while outscoring Chicago 51-32. Embiid contributed 12 points in the quarter before resting for the remainder of the game.

The rout continued into the fourth, where George scored seven points during a 10-0 run that pushed the lead to 135-88. Although Chicago mounted a late rally, the outcome was never in doubt.

Veteran guard Kyle Lowry capped the performance in style on his 40th birthday, knocking down a three-pointer in the final minute — Philadelphia’s 22nd of the night — to seal an emphatic win.

-Field Level Media/Reuters