PHILADELPHIA _ Joel Embiid stood out on a night when the 76ers lost Jimmy Butler to an injury.
The swingman suffered a game-ending groin strain in the first quarter of Monday's 116-102 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
The Sixers improved to 19-9 overall and 14-1 at Wells Fargo Center with the win. Embiid had 24 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks after missing Friday's game against the Pistons (13-12) to rest. Before that game, the All-Star center voiced his displeasure with his new role as a stretch five following the acquisition of Butler in a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 12.
But on Monday, Butler left the game with 2 minutes, 20 seconds left in the first quarter and didn't return. The four-time All-Star had four rebounds and two assists in 9:40 of action. He failed to score while missing all three of his shots.
It was obvious that something was wrong with Butler late in the first quarter. He grimaced while touching the left side of his torso during a break. The Sixers did not give an update about Butler's injury following the game.
Embiid looked uncomfortable, once again, playing mainly in the perimeter while on offense in the first quarter.
The 7-foot-2, 270-pounder had four shot attempts, with three of them being 3-pointers, in the first quarter. He only made one of them to finish with three points in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Ben Simmons took his place in the post, scoring 11 of the Sixers' first 23 points. The point guard's baskets during that stretch came on two dunks, two driving layup and a nine-foot hook shot.
He, however, went on to score seven points in the second half to finish with 18 to go with 10 rebounds and seven assists.
But Embiid began posting more in the second quarter and got more comfortable as the game wore on. Ten of his points came in the third quarter where he made 2 of 3 shots and all six of his foul shots.
Then his put-back dunk with 7:33 left to play gave the Sixers a 91-84 advantage. The home team extended its lead to 15 points (107-92) after Landry Shamet's 3-pointer with 3:55 to play.
JJ Redick's 3-pointer gave the Sixers a commanding 113-92 advantage 44 seconds later.
Reserve guard Furkan Korkmaz finished with career highs of 18 points and seven rebounds.
Pistons forward Luke Kennard finished with a career-high 28 points. Two-time All-Star center Andre Drummond had 21 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks.
Detroit was without power forward Blake Griffin, who sat out the game to rest.
