PHI 113, SAC 111: Embiid Powers Through for 59 Yahoo FP
Sarah Kowalski
Orthopedic Nurse · Milwaukee Bucks fan
Embiid and Maxey Put Philly Over the Top in Tight Kings Battle
The 76ers scraped out a 113-111 win over Sacramento tonight, and if you own either Joel Embiid or Tyrese Maxey, you're already texting your league chat. If you don't, well, we need to talk about that.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Embiid | 65.0 | 59.0 | 37/5/8 | 25.7/7.4/3.9 | +11.3 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 69.0 | 57.8 | 40/4/8 | 29.4/4.2/6.9 | +10.6 |
| DeMar DeRozan | 45.0 | 40.8 | 25/4/8 | 19.2/3.3/3.9 | +5.8 |
| Dennis Schröder | 42.0 | 35.8 | 27/4/2 | 13.0/3.0/5.3 | +14.0 |
| Precious Achiuwa | 32.0 | 32.1 | 8/13/3 | 7.5/5.7/1.2 | +0.5 |
| Paul George | 33.0 | 29.9 | 15/2/5 | 16.0/5.1/3.7 | -1.0 |
| Zach LaVine | 22.0 | 25.7 | 17/1/3 | 19.4/2.7/2.3 | -2.4 |
| Domantas Sabonis | 21.0 | 23.9 | 14/7/3 | 15.4/11.2/4.2 | -1.4 |
| VJ Edgecombe | 24.0 | 23.5 | 5/5/3 | 15.1/5.4/4.1 | -10.1 |
| Maxime Raynaud | 19.0 | 18.4 | 8/7/0 | 9.4/6.3/1.0 | -1.4 |
The 76ers Duo Took Over When It Mattered
Maxey dropped 40 points on 12-18 shooting with 12 free throws made in 40 minutes. That's the guy you need when games get tight. He was +10.6 on his season average and ran the offense when it counted most. 59 Yahoo points from your point guard is exactly what you're paying for.
Embiid went for 37 on clean 13-21 shooting, hit his free throws (10-13), and chipped in 8 assists from the post. The rebounding was quiet at just 5, which is the only thing keeping this from being a 65+ Yahoo night, but +11.3 scoring vs his average tells you everything. When the Sixers needed buckets down the stretch, he got them.
Here's the thing about these two: they didn't just score volume points. They were efficient. Maxey's free throw rate was pristine, and Embiid's field goal percentage was elite for 37 points. This wasn't a "got lucky shooting" night. This was a "we're the best players on the court" performance.
Dennis Schröder Had the Most Underrated Game
Schröder put up 27 points on 9-16 shooting with 5 threes in just 31 minutes off the bench for Sacramento. That's a +14.0 scoring game, which absolutely crushed his season average. The assists were down (2 vs 5.3), but when a reserve guard is pouring in 27 points efficiently, we're not splitting hairs.
The question is sustainability. Schröder's been a solid 13 PPG guy this year, and tonight was an outlier. But if Sacramento's going to keep him in that 30-minute sweet spot where he's dialed in, he becomes a solid playoff-time streamer. Keep an eye on his next few games.
The Sacramento Disappointment
Sabonis finished with 14/7/3 in 28 minutes. That's not bad, but it's -4.2 on the glass vs his season average. The Kings needed him to dominate the glass tonight and he didn't. On the positive side, he stayed out of foul trouble and was efficient, but this is the kind of night that costs you close games.
Zach LaVine only took 16 shots in 28 minutes. He hit some threes (2-7 from three), finished with 17 points, but the volume just wasn't there. For your third scorer on a losing team, you need more shot attempts. Could be coach's decision to keep him limited, could be he wasn't feeling it tonight.
The real shocker was VJ Edgecombe completely disappearing. He's been averaging 15.1 PPG and tonight managed just 5 points on 2-7 shooting in 35 minutes. That's a -10.1 scoring miss. If you have him as a starter, this is a red flag game to monitor going forward.
Precious Achiuwa Is Your Waiver Wire Add
Achiuwa went for 8/13/3 with a steal and a block in 34 minutes. The rebounding number is what jumps out, +7.3 vs his season average. He's a scrap-and-hustle guy who sometimes disappears, but nights like tonight show why he matters in total rebounds leagues. If he's available in your league, he's worth an add. He won't give you 32 Yahoo points every night, but the rebounding floor is sneaky valuable down the stretch.
The Bottom Line
This was a game where star power won. Embiid and Maxey were both exceptional and that's how you win a 2-point game on the road against a hungry Kings squad. If you own either, you rode this one out. If you're still looking to upgrade your backcourt, this game is a reminder that Maxey is a sell-high conversation piece if the right offer lands. But don't panic move him over one game.
Sacramento just showed they can't finish close games. That matters for playoff seeding and it matters for your fantasy decisions moving forward.