PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid had 37 points and 13 rebounds to the tune of “MVP! MVP!” chants and the Philadelphia 76ers inched closer toward securing the top spot in the East with a 109-107 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Embiid made two free throws with 1:39 left to bring the Sixers within one, then grabbed a defensive rebound on the other end to set up Tobias Harris’ 3 with 1:10 left that made it 109-107.
Philadelphia forced two turnovers to seal the victory.
The Sixers won their season-high seventh straight game and increased their lead to three games over Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference.
New Orleans star Zion Williamson is sidelined indefinitely with a fractured left finger.