Joel Embiid scores 25 in hyped matchup against Andre Drummond
* Recap: Sixers 108, Pistons 103
Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond did their best WWE impersonations before the Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons squared off Saturday night. But the matchup between two of the league’s biggest men never turned into the drama anyone thought it might.
The Sixers got the win, both Embiid and Drummond did their usual on-court business and no one left the building looking like the wrestling heel they presented themselves to be on social media in the days leading up to the game. In fact, there was conciliatory actions from both players after the game, as Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Daily News details:
“The Sixers,” Embiid answered. “We won the game. So this wasn’t about any of us. It was about Sixers vs. Pistons, and we got the win.”
Embiid finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, one steals and six turnovers en route to his sixth straight double-double and 12th of the season. However, he made just seven of his 21 shots — including missing all three of his three-pointers. Fifteen of his points came in the first half when Drummond wasn’t effective at all. But Drummond woke up in the fourth quarter, scoring six of his 14 points before Embiid fouled him out with 2 minutes, 35 seconds left. The Piston also had 11 rebounds, six assists and five steals.
The Sixers’ big man waved goodbye to Drummond from the foul line before attempting his free throws.
“That was the goal going in,” Embiid said. “Before this game, I told my teammates that he was going to foul out and he did.
“But it’s all fun. At the end of the game, we hugged it out. … We are just having fun out there. I love having fun on social media. He does, too. So we are just young kids having fun out there.
Exciting and fun game tonight… Great battle against the big fella #TheProcess pic.twitter.com/mffqKID9Mh
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) December 3, 2017
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