PHILADELPHIA _ Joel Embiid talks openly about wanting to become the NBA's MVP.
The performance by the 76ers center in Saturday's 109-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons at the Wells Fargo Center showed he deserves consideration. Embiid dominated two-time All-Star center Andre Drummond and everyone else the Pistons used to defend him.
He finished with 39 points and game highs of 17 rebounds and two blocks playing what the Sixers (6-4) call "Bully Ball."
The Sixers hope "Bully Ball" _ getting the ball in the paint and attacking the rim _ will lead to more free-throw attempts for the All-Star center. Embiid got that Saturday, making 18 of 23 foul shots. Both were career highs.
Embiid did most of his damage in the first half. That's when he scored 32 of his points and made 15 of 17 foul shots. The 32 points were the most by a player in the first half at the Wells Fargo, and his 15 made free throws are the most by an NBA player in a half this season. Portland point guard Damian Lillard had the previous high of 11.
The Pistons' two centers and reserve power forward/center, Jon Leuer, all had a tough time guarding Embiid in the first half.
Drummond only played 4 minutes, 22 seconds of the half due to three fouls. His backup, Zaza Pachulia, was pulled after picking up his fourth foul. He saw 9:40 of action. With both of them in foul trouble, Leuer was left to defend Embiid for the final 8:09 of the half.
After shooting 8-for-9 in the first half, Embiid missed all three of his attempts in the third quarter. He added seven points in the fourth quarter.
Reserves JJ Redick (16 points), Mike Muscala (14) and Landry Shamet (11) were the Sixers' other double-digit scorers.
Blake Griffin paced the Pistons (4-4) with 38 points. The power forward had 50 points when the Pistons defeated the visiting Sixers, 133-132, in overtime on Oct. 23 at the Little Caesars Arena.
This time, Embiid dominated shortly after the game started. He scored the Sixers' first seven points on a driving dunk, a three-point play on a reverse layup and alley-oop. All the while, Embiid was talking trash to Drummond, one of his main rivals.
Drummond finished with six points on 2-for-7 shooting to go with eight rebounds. He didn't score his first basket until converting a three-point play 1:13 seconds in the second half.
Ben Simmons had nine points, Markelle Fultz 4 and Dario Saric 5.
The Sixers have won all six of their home games this season.
