Joel Embiid continues to power the Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid continues to power the Philadelphia 76ers, and more around the league. 

Through the last 13 games, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is averaging over 35 points per game. This includes a big 50-point game Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic. He also had 12 rebounds and two assists to go along with his 74 percent shooting from the field.

Embiid tied his career-high with 50 points. Mo Bamba scored 32 points on Embiid, which was his career-high in points.

Nevertheless, Embiid continues to power the Sixers as they begin to look more and more like the Eastern Conference threat that many predicted they would be this season – even as Ben Simmons continues to wait for a trade – the NBA Trade Deadline is February 10, perhaps we’ll get some sort of resolution between Simmons and the Sixers at that time.

Ultimately, the Sixers outlasted the Magic 123-110. Philadelphia has now won 10 of their last 12 games and has risen to fifth in the Eastern Conferene standings. They are just 2.5 games back of the top seed.

Elsewhere around the league, Kyrie Irving put up 30 points to help the aligning Brooklyn Nets take down the struggling Washington Wizards, 119-118. Washington has spiraled all the way down to the 8th seed as the Nets are holding steady with the 3-seed.

Trae Young scored 37 points and added 14 assists as the Atlanta Hawks topped the Minnesota Timberwolves 134-122. The Charlotte Hornets bested the Boston Celtics 111-102 led by LaMelo Ball’s triple-double. The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped a game to the short-handed Chicago Bulls in what could end up being an early playoff preview.

All in all, the East is beginning to take shape and if there’s one thing that’s becoming clear it’s that the Sixers, as long as Embiid remains healthy, are going to play at least a small factor in who emerges.