Joel Embiid Leads 76ers Over Heat 101-94 For First Two-Game Winning Streak Since March 2015

Joel Embiid scored 22 points, including four late free throws, to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 101-94 home victory over the Miami Heat on Monday night, thus securing the team’s first two consecutive wins since March 2015.

Joel Embiid Leads 76ers Over Heat 101-94 For First Two-Game Winning Streak Since March 2015

Hassan Whiteside, another top NBA center, led the Heat with 32 points, a career high, while reaching double digits in rebounds for the 13th straight game to start the season. Whiteside, who entered leading the league with 16.2 boards per game, finished with 13.

”Around the league there’s a lot of young big men, and I think we’re starting to come back,” said Embiid, who played 23 minutes. ”So one thing I told him is keep killing it. As big men, we all want each other to do good. I’ve always studied him in the past. It’s always been a big man league, so I want it to stay like that.”

“They were talking about that this morning at shoot-around,” Philadelphia’s Gerald Henderson, who scored 19 points on just eight shots, said of the team’s historic win, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I asked the guys if they won back-to-back games last year. There was a quick no. But hey, it’s a new year, man.”

Jahlil Okafor added 15 points for the 76ers, who won their fourth straight home game. Philadelphia (4-10) has lost 21 straight on the road.

”I feel we’re moving in the right direction,” coach Brett Brown said.

Embiid, who was drafted as the third overall pick out of Kansas (after just one year of college basketball) in 2014, previously missed two seasons with a foot injury. He set a career high with 26 points in Philadelphia’s 120-105 win over Phoenix on Saturday night.

He was serenaded with chants of “MVP! MVP” from the home crowd late in the game.

‘Philly loves that guy,” Whiteside said. ”I’ve never seen excitement like that. They love that dude. I was amazed.”

The teams were close throughout the second half. Henderson’s corner 3-pointer gave Philadelphia an 85-80 advantage with 8:16 left. Whiteside re-entered shortly after that and helped Miami tie it up at 89 with 4:43 remaining with a tip-in.

The 76ers then responded with nine of the next 11 points, capped by Embiid’s two free throws with 2:27 left that gave the 76ers their biggest lead up until that point, 98-91.

The Heat (4-9) will next visit the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, when the 76ers host the Memphis Grizzlies.

MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 21: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives on Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat during a preseason game at American Airlines Arena on October 21, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)