NBA Game Notes (March 17, 2023)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on March 17, 2023.

Enjoying “The Process”

Joel Embiid compiled 38 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks in just 29 minutes as the Philadelphia 76ers cruised to a 121-82 win over the Charlotte Hornets. The Sixers have won seven consecutive games, averaging 124.0 PPG with a point differential of +14.0 PPG over that span.

It’s the second time Embiid has recorded at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in fewer than 30 minutes played. He’s the only player since the ABA-NBA merger to produce multiple such games.

Embiid — who made 16 of his 21 attempts from the field — has scored at least 25 points on 50% shooting from the field in each of his last 10 games, breaking a tie with Wilt Chamberlain (Feb. 7-19, 1966) for the longest such streak in franchise history.

Embiid has recorded eight straight 30-point games with a field goal percentage of at least 50%, tying Chamberlain (Feb. 13-28, 1965) for the longest such streak in franchise history.

It’s the second time Embiid has scored at least 30 points in eight straight games, the first occurrence coming last season (Dec. 26, 2021–Jan. 12, 2022). The only other players in franchise history to record eight 30-point games in a row are Chamberlain and Allen Iverson (Dec. 29, 1999–Jan. 17, 2000).

Embiid has recorded at least 30 points and three blocks in each of his last five games. He’s just one game shy of matching the longest such streak since the NBA began tracking blocks in 1973-74.

Teammate James Harden recorded his fifth triple-double of the season, producing 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. He has 33 points-assists double-doubles this season, tied with Nikola Jokic for the second-most such games in the NBA (Trae Young, 34).