ORLANDO, Fla. _ Joel Embiid hasn't done much in regards to quantity during the NBA restart. Yet 76ers coach Brett Brown is pleased with what the three-time All-Star center has been able to do in his limited time on the court.
"I think defensively, to have him be as much of an even amplified rim protector has been achieved in that he's played," Brown said before Friday night's seeding-game finale against the Houston Rockets, a 134-96 win at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.
Brown is also happy the franchise player is rolling with the pick-and-roll.
"But, in general, I think he's achieved those ... things," Brown said.
On Friday, Embiid finished with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting to go with six rebounds, five turnovers, five fouls, and one block in his final tune-up before the postseason.
Tobias Harris paced the Sixers (43-30) with 18 points leading eight different players in double figures. Every Sixer who played scored at least one basket.
Game 1 of the Sixers' best-of-seven series against the Boston Celtics is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Embiid averaged 30 points through the first four seeding games.
He played only 5 minutes, 42 seconds of the fifth game after twisting his left ankle, which sidelined him for one game. He injured his right hand in the first half of the seventh game against the Raptors. Embiid had his hand evaluated at halftime and the X-rays were negative. Embiid did not play in the second half because he was scheduled to play limited minutes.
Against Houston, Embiid flexed and grabbed his injured hand a few times, but remained in the game for his scheduled 22 minutes, 52 seconds of action.
His highlight on the night was a play that didn't count. Showing off some volleyball skills while diving out of bounds, Embiid attempted to save the ball with a closed fist underhand dig.
The Sixers took a commanding 71-47 halftime lead in a game where the No. 1 goal was to stay healthy. They shot 10 for 16 from the 3-point line. Harris (12 points), Embiid (11), Alec Burks (10), and Furkan Korkmaz (10) led the scoring.
For the game, Philly made 18 of 38 3-pointers. Houston's James Harden finished with a game-high 27 points and clinched his third straight scoring title.
