Joel Embiid puts on another MVP-caliber performance, Matisse Thybulle provides lockdown defense | Sixers-Timberwolves best/worst

Thybulle had game highs of three steals and two blocks, while Embiid finished with 37 points and 11 rebounds.

Matisse Thybulle (22) blocks Minnesota's Ricky Rubio (9) from shooting during the second half.Read moreJim Mone / AP

Updated Jan. 30, 2021, 12:48 p.m. ET

Published Jan. 30, 2021, 6:31 a.m. ET

MINNEAPOLIS — The 76ers did what they are supposed to do against an undermanned struggling team.

They defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 118-94, Friday night at the Target Center. This victory gives the Sixers (14-6) a 1½-game lead over the second-place Brooklyn Nets atop the Eastern Conference standings.

Here’s a look at some of the best and worst awards from Friday night’s game:

Best performance

Joel Embiid gets this. The Sixers center finished with a game-high 37 points to go with 11 rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter. Sixteen of his points came in the third quarter on 6-for-7 shooting. The league MVP candidate scored the Sixers’ first eight points of the quarter.

West performance

Ricky Rubio received this award. The Timberwolves point guard missed four of his six shots in route to scoring four points. He also committed a game-high four turnovers.

Best defensive performance

This goes to Matisse Thybulle. The Sixers guard played a major role in Rubio’s rough night. He made life tough for him while finishing with game highs of three steals and two blocks.

Worst statistic

This goes to the Sixers’ first-quarter shooting. They made 5 of 22 shots (22.7%).

Best statistic

This goes to Embiid first-half foul shooting. He went 12-for-12 during that time. His free throws were tied for the most by a player in either half during a game this season. (Trae Young made 12 in the second half versus the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 2).