Washington WizardsOpen full analysis
Philadelphia 76ersOpen full analysis
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Washington Wizards 131–110 on January 7 at Wells Fargo Center, with Joel Embiid and Paul George leading the charge. Embiid scored 28 points while George added 23 as Philadelphia's offense operated at a 129.6 rating, well above Washington's 107.0. The 76ers shot 53.6 percent from the field and made 14 three-pointers, establishing control early with 37 first-quarter points. Philadelphia's defense proved suffocating, holding the Wizards to a 107.0 offensive rating while forcing 22 turnovers compared to their own 10. The 76ers' fourth quarter proved decisive, outscoring Washington 39–30 to pull away decisively. Taj Johnson led the Wizards with 20 points and Boulaye Coulibaly contributed 18, but Washington's 42 rebounds and 29 assists couldn't overcome their shooting inefficiency and ball-security issues. The game fell well short of the 233.5 Vegas total. Philadelphia's balanced offensive attack—30 assists and 15 steals—underscored their defensive superiority in a wire-to-wire victory that solidifies their standing in the Eastern Conference.
