CHICAGO (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 25 points and made a tiebreaking 3-pointer to help the Philadelphia 76ers squeeze by the Chicago Bulls 114-109 on Saturday night.
Philadelphia led by 19 midway through the second quarter before Chicago went on a big run to get back into the game prior to halftime. The Bulls went ahead in the third quarter. It remained tight the rest of the way, but the 76ers made just enough plays to beat Chicago for the 12th straight time.
It was tied at 109 after the Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic made two foul shots with 1:10 left in the game. Embiid then missed two free throws after Patrick Williams fouled him away from the ball.
Chicago’s Alex Caruso grabbed the rebound, but Zach LaVine missed a 19-footer. Embiid then nailed a 3 to give the Sixers a 112-109 lead with 18.1 seconds remaining.
DeRozan missed on a drive. Alex Caruso then stole a pass from P.J. Tucker, only to miss a 3, and Tobias Harris made two free throws with 4.4 seconds to play.
Embiid delivered after sitting out Friday’s win at Toronto because of a sore right knee. James Harden scored 15, though he made just 2 of 13 shots.
Tyrese Maxey, coming off a career-high 44-point outing, finished with 14, and the Sixers improved to 3-4 with their second straight win.
DeRozan, who reached the 20,000-point milestone in Friday’s loss at San Antonio, led Chicago with 24.
Nikola Vucevic added 23 points and 19 rebounds. The 6-foot-10 center from Montenegro made five 3-pointers — one shy of his career high.
LaVine 20 after missing a game because the team is managing his surgically repaired left knee, and the Bulls dropped their second in a row.
TIP-INS
76ers: Philadelphia has not lost to Chicago since March 6, 2019. … Embiid was not listed on the injury report after he sat out Friday’s win at Toronto because of a sore right knee.
Bulls: G Ayo Dosunmu (neck pain) and C Andre Drummond (strained left shoulder) were unavailable after getting banged up in Friday’s loss at San Antonio. Dosunmu slipped and struck the knee of the Spurs’ Keldon Johnson in the third quarter. He returned to the game after clearing concussion protocol, but was having trouble turning and moving his neck. Coach Billy Donovan said Drummond does not appear to be seriously injured and should be back in a few days. … The Bulls honored DeRozan during the game’s first timeout for reaching the 20,000-point milestone at San Antonio on Friday.
UP NEXT
76ers: Visit Washington on Monday.
Bulls: Visit Brooklyn on Tuesday.
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