NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Embiid had 32 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Brooklyn Nets 121-99 on Sunday.
Tyrese Maxey finished with 25 points and 10 assists, and De’Anthony Melton scored 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting.
The 76ers (10-3) shot 16 for 35 from 3-point range in their ninth straight victory over the Brooklyn, including a four-game sweep in last season's Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Philadelphia also won its fifth straight in Brooklyn.
Lonnie Walker IV came off the bench to lead Brooklyn with 26 points and six rebounds. Mikal Bridges scored 18 points and Nic Claxton added 10 points and nine rebounds. Brooklyn (6-7) lost its second straight and had its three-game home win streak halted.
The Sixers closed the second quarter with a 23-7 run. Philadelphia scored 15 straight points in a span of 3:11 and turned a three-point deficit into a 12-point lead.
Brooklyn was victimized by a half-closing run for the second straight game; Miami went on a 14-0 run on Thursday on the way to a 122-115 win.
Maxey, who entered play 10th in the NBA in points per game (26.9), had 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting in the first half. He warmed up in the third quarter, scoring nine points and finished with 14 points in the second half while shooting 4 for 7 from 3-point range.
The 76ers forced seven turnovers in the third quarter and led by 27 points at 92-65. Philadelphia outscored Brooklyn 33-23 in the third and held the Nets to their lowest scoring output of the season.
Three players scored for the Sixers in the first quarter. Maxey had just two points on 1-of-4 shooting. But, Embiid scored 13 points in the first, and Melton chipped in eight, helping Philadelphia build an early 10-point lead.
The Nets started 1 for 7 from the field, but closed the frame on an 8-2 run, cutting the 76ers’ lead to 23-22 after one. The Nets held Philadelphia scoreless for three-plus minutes and used a 16-5 run in the second quarter to build their largest lead at 42-38.
UP NEXT
76ers: Host Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Nets: At Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday
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