Sixers pull away from Washington Wizards to extend winning streak to five games

The win streak continues for the Sixers, who are in the midst of an impressive stretch run.

Published March 12, 2023, 8:57 p.m. ET

Monte Morris could not help but crack a smile as he jogged back down the court, after becoming the latest defender to be whiffed by James Harden.

Harden had jab-stepped and put on a dribble move that caused the Washington Wizards’ guard to lose his balance in the right corner. Harden used that space to pull up for three with the shot clock winding down, then turned to high-five Tyrese Maxey from the Sixers’ bench after it went splash.

That long ball capped the Sixers’ fourth-quarter surge to authoritatively pull away from the Wizards, 112-93, Sunday night at the Wells Fargo Center to push their winning streak to five games.

“I love not playing the fourth quarter,” said Sixers MVP contender Joel Embiid, who finished with 34 points, eight rebounds and four assists in three quarters of work. “It means we’re doing something good. Got to keep building on that. We did it as a team, and everybody contributed.”

The Sixers (45-22), who have won 11 of their past 14 games, jumped to an early 22-8 lead fueled by a defensive intensity that pleased Embiid and coach Doc Rivers. Later, the Sixers re-extended that advantage to 65-52 when Maxey hit a corner three-pointer about three minutes into the third quarter.

Then, the final flurry in the fourth quarter arrived, thanks to Harden and the Sixers’ second unit of De’Anthony Melton, Shake Milton, Georges Niang, and Paul Reed. They orchestrated a 22-9 run, turning an 81-69 lead into a 25-point cushion.

The Sixers’ defense held the Wizards (31-37) to 7-of-19 from the floor in the fourth quarter. Rivers called Harden the “conductor” on the offensive end, amassing three of his 14 assists by utilizing floor-spacing and dribble penetration before draining the highlight-worthy three-pointer. Yet every Sixer on the floor during that stretch scored, including seven points from Melton and six from Reed.

“Just beautiful basketball,” said Harden, who finished with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting. “ ... When we have opportunities like that, we’ve got to capitalize and take advantage of them, and tonight was one of those nights.”

The Sixers will play seven of their next eight games on the road, including a Wednesday matchup at the Cleveland Cavaliers before facing the Charlotte Hornets on Friday and Indiana Pacers the following night.

“The stretch is going to be crucial for us,” Harden said. “Ultimately, we just want to be playing well and be in sync and [if] we’re on the same page, we’ll live with the results.”

Embiid shines, while Wizards’ stars struggle

Following Friday’s game-winner against the Portland Trail Blazers, Embiid put together one of his methodically dominant outings against the Wizards before resting for the final quarter.

Citing the 48 points he scored in his last meeting against Washington in late December, Embiid believed he again had a favorable matchup again Sunday.

He started 1-of-5 from the floor, before making seven of his next nine shots to finish the first half with 22 points. He took 10 of the Sixers’ 18 first-quarter field-goal attempts. He mixed smooth jumpers with a breakaway dunk, a crafty finish inside, and a tough score over Daniel Gafford in the second quarter’s final minute.

Embiid scored another 12 points in the third, including a nifty spin and finish to push the Sixers’ lead back to 73-63 with 5:30 to play in the frame.

“I just knew going into the game that if I was aggressive offensively and defensively — just trying to do my job and help everybody else — I knew that we had a chance,” Embiid said. “The ball just finds energy, and the ball found me tonight.”

Wizards stars Bradley Beal (13 points) and Kristaps Porzingis (nine points), meanwhile, shot a combined 9-of-27 from the floor. P.J. Tucker’s defense on Porzingis, in particular, drew praise from Rivers and teammates.

McDaniels leaves with hip injury, Dedmon makes Sixers debut

Sixers reserve wing Jalen McDaniels left the game early in the second quarter with a right hip contusion and did not return. Rivers said after the game that he does not believe the injury to be serious.

McDaniels scored six points in eight minutes, but appeared to sustain the injury when he got bumped by the Wizards’ Dani Avdija on a shooting foul about three minutes into the second quarter. McDaniels stayed in to sink both free throws, but was then replaced by Danuel House Jr.

Washington’s Taj Gibson also left the game with a non-COVID illness and did not return. He totaled two points in six first-half minutes.

Veteran center Dewayne Dedmon, meanwhile, made his Sixers debut by playing the game’s final five minutes and totaling four points and one rebound. He signed with the Sixers out of the buyout market just before the All-Star break, but had been hampered by a hip injury.

“He knows how to play,” Rivers said of Dedmon. “You can see that. … He’s just smart.”