PHILADELPHIA _ The Los Angeles Clippers presented a stiffer challenge. But that didn't impede the 76ers from getting the same result.
They defeated the Clippers, 112-98, Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center one day after breezing past the New Orleans Pelicans.
The victory improved the Sixers to 28-25 and extended their winning streak to three games. They also swept their two-game season series with the Clippers. Los Angeles (28-26) had its three-game winning streak snapped.
Joel Embiid finished with 29 points and a career-high-tying 16 rebounds for his 28th double-double of the season. Ben Simmons added 14 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. T.J. McConnell and JJ Redick finished with 17 points apiece. McConnell, a reserve point guard, made 6 of 7 shots _ including all three of his 3-pointers.
Justin Anderson (12) and Dario Saric (10) also scored in double figures for the Sixers.
Lou Williams paced the Clippers with 23 points.
However, this win didn't come without intrigue. There was an Embiid scare and the Sixers nearly lost a commanding 16-point second-quarter lead.
The Clippers pulled within two points (95-93) on Tobias Harris' foul shots with 6 minutes, 5 seconds remaining.
The Sixers responded with an 8-0 run. After a Clippers 3-pointer, Embiid sank a pair of foul shots to give the Sixers a 105-96 lead with 1:00 remaining. Then Redick's 3-pointer made it 108-96 with 31.7 seconds left.
Simmons added a layup with six seconds remaining to make it 112-98.
Embiid appeared to hurt his knee after slipping to the court while turning the ball over with 7:38 to play. The center was replaced by Amir Johnson five seconds later. He went to into the locker room but returned to the bench moments later.
A team spokesman said there was no official injury and Embiid returned to the court with 4:43 left.
