Chicago Bulls: Joel Embiid’s career night prevents upset bid
On the night of Feb. 19, first-year head coach Billy Donovan and his Chicago Bulls hit the road to take on the Philadelphia 76ers. Facing the top team in the Eastern Conference standings on the road heading into the weekend was not going to be easy for Donovan and the Bulls. But this building team was able to prove something on the national stage.
In a night where the Bulls got a big effort from star shooting guard Zach LaVine once again, it went all for naught as the Sixers superstar center Joel Embiid took center stage. Embiid went off for a career-high 50 points, to go along with 17 rebounds, five assists, two steals, four blocks, and just two turnovers. He did all that while shooting 17-of-26 from the field, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and 15-of-17 from the free-throw line.
Embiid played essentially a perfect game for the Sixers, thriving and producing on both ends of the floor. That was good because the rest of his team, outside of possibly forward Tobias Harris, didn’t do so hot. Guard Seth Curry had an off night shooting, going just 2-of-11 from the field and 1-of-5 from beyond the arc.
And star point guard Ben Simmons was missing from this game for the Sixers, as he’s dealing with an illness that kept him out against the Bulls. Taking his place at the one in the starting five was the defensive standout Matisse Thybulle, who managed just two assists on the night.
How the Chicago Bulls countered the Sixers
Moreover, the Bulls countered with a team-high 30 points from LaVine, to go along with five rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block, and four turnovers. LaVine shot 9-of-28 from the field, 2-of-10 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line.
A mostly inefficient night from LaVine shooting from the field was another factor that led to the Bulls demise against the Sixers.
The main problem at hand for the Bulls, though, was their lack of ability to find an answer on the defensive end of the floor for Embiid. Third-year center Wendell Carter Jr. definitely didn’t do the trick, and neither did second-year center Daniel Gafford (who got just five minutes of playing time).
While WCJ was solid on the offensive end, he didn’t show up as needed on defense. He registered 15 points, four rebounds, one assist, no steals, and no blocks. And he shot 7-of-13 from the field, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and didn’t have any attempts from the free-throw line.
WCJ got dominated on the defensive end by Embiid and the Sixers. That has to stop if the Bulls want to find any sort of significant post presence in the near future.
Veteran forward Thaddeus Young filled his usual role as a productive and efficient spark plug off the bench. He registered 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal. And Young shot 6-of-9 from the field, and didn’t have any attempts from beyond the arc or the charity stripe.
This loss, which came by the final score of 112-105, snaps the Bulls prior two-game winning streak and sends their record of 12-16 on the season. The road meeting with the Sixers was the first of back-to-back games the team will play this weekend.
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On Feb. 20, the Bulls will return home to the United Center to face the improving Sacramento Kings. Tip off time between the 12-16 Bulls and the 12-16 Kings is set for 7 p.m. CT.