PHILADELPHIA 76ERS DEFEATED THE UTAH JAZZ 131 – 123 IN (OT) MARCH 3, 2021
March 4, 2021
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Utah Jazz, 131-123, in overtime on Wednesday night at The Center, improving to 24-12 on the season. The 76ers’ 16-3 home record remains the best in the East and is second in the NBA to Utah (15-2). Philadelphia’s 16 home wins are the most in the league.
The 76ers’ .667 winning percentage at the All-Star break is the team’s best since 2000-01 when they were 36-14 (.720) at the break. The last few occasions prior to 2000-01 were 1984-85 (39-10, .796), 1983-84 (29-14, .674), 1982-83 (43-7, .860) and 1981-82 (30-14, .682), per the Elias Sports Bureau.
Philadelphia outshot Utah tonight from the field .516-.444. It was the 10th time this season the 76ers shot at least 50-percent from the field, improving to 8-2 in those games.
The 76ers also outscored the Jazz, 64-44, in the paint in the win. The 64 paint points were tied for the second-most the team’s scored in a game this season, only behind the 66 posted at Utah on Feb. 15. Philadelphia tallied 25 fast-break points compared to Utah’s 11. The 76ers lead the league with an average of 16.7 fast-break points per game (NBA.com/stats) and are 14-4 when scoring equal-or-more fast-break points in a game.
In overtime, Philadelphia outscored Utah, 13-5 as TOBIAS HARRIS scored 11 (4-5 FG, 3-3 FT) of the 76ers’ 13 points in the extra five minutes. Harris finished with 22 points (9-18 FG) and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes of action.
It was his ninth double-double of the season, his 18th 20-point game and his seventh 20-10 performance. The seven 20-10 games are tied for the second-most he’s had in a season in his career. In 2018-19, he posted a career-high 10 such games (Stathead).
Philadelphia improved to 15-3 this season when Harris scored 20-or-more points (Stathead). Harris is averaging career highs in points per game (20.2), field-goal percentage (.513) and free-throw percentage (.887).
JOEL EMBIID posted game highs of 40 points (14-27 FG, 10-13 FT) and 19 rebounds to go along with three assists and two blocks in 40 minutes. It was his fifth 40-point, 10-rebound game this season, the most in the NBA. All other players have combined for four such games (Stathead).
It was also Embiid’ 13th career 40-10 game, moving him into a tie with Hall of Famer CHARLES BARKLEY for the second-most in 76ers franchise history, only behind Hall of Famer WILT CHAMBERLAIN (31), per Elias.
Embiid has the NBA’s last two performances of 40 points, 19 rebounds and two blocks: tonight and Aug. 1, 2020 vs. Indiana. The only other players to post such numbers in a game since 2010 are DWIGHT HOWARD, ANTHONY DAVIS (twice) and DEMARCUS COUSINS (Stathead).
Embiid made double-digit free throws for a league-leading 17th time this season. He leads the NBA in total free throws made (298), free throws made per game (9.9) and free-throw attempts per game (11.6).
Dwight Howard and SHAKE MILTON combined for 24 of the 76ers’ 35 bench points, scoring 12 apiece. It was Milton’s 20th game in double figures off the bench this season, making him one of 10 NBA players with at least 20 such performances. Howard made his fourth three-pointer of the season in the win, marking a new single-season career high (Stathead).
The Jazz were led by All-Star DONAVAN MITCHELL, who notched 33 points and six assists, both team highs. This was Mitchells 10th time this season scoring 30-or-more. Utah made 21 three-pointers, while shooting .477% from long range. That is the 12th time the Jazz have made more than 20 threes in a game this season. The Jazz lead the league in three-pointers made per game (17.1) and rank third in three-point shooting percentage (.398).
NEXT UP: The 76ers will visit the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, March 11 at 8 p.m. ET. Philadelphia is 1-0 against the Bulls this season, having beaten Chicago at home on Feb. 19, 112-105. This will be the second time the 76ers match up against the Bulls this season, and the first at The United Center. The Bulls sit at 16-18 and 10th in the Eastern Conference, most recently defeating the New Orleans Pelicans tonight, 128-124.