PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — Joel Embiid scored 40 points to help the Philadelphia 76ers overcome the absence of suspended Paul George and beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-114 on Saturday night. Playing hours after George was suspended 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, the 76ers used a 36-point second quarter to build a lead at Xfinity Mobile Arena but could not shake the Pelicans until the final minutes. Saddiq Bey led New Orleans with 34 points. Philadelphia shot 47.9% from the field and made 17 3-pointers. New Orleans, which fell to 13-38, shot 43.5%. Embiid added 11 rebounds and four assists for the 76ers, who improved to 27-21.

PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — Joel Embiid scored 40 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers overcame a spirited challenge from the undermanned New Orleans Pelicans to win 124-114 on Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The victory came hours after the NBA suspended 76ers forward Paul George for 25 games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. The league did not disclose the nature of the violation. Without George, Philadelphia struggled to shake the 13-win Pelicans until a decisive run in the final minutes before a crowd of 20,096. Embiid, the reigning MVP, was dominant throughout, adding four assists and two blocks in 39 minutes. He anchored a Philadelphia offense that operated with elite efficiency, scoring 124 points on 102 possessions for an offensive rating of 121.7. The 76ers shot 47.9% from the field and connected on 17 of 36 attempts from 3-point range. New Orleans, led by a career-high 34 points from Saddiq Bey, hung tight by matching Philadelphia’s long-range barrage. The Pelicans also hit 15 3-pointers on 36 attempts and shot 86.4% from the free-throw line. Bey added six rebounds and three assists. Trey Murphy contributed 19 points and nine rebounds for the Pelicans, who fell to 13-38. The game’s pivotal sequence arrived with just over three minutes remaining and Philadelphia clinging to a 111-109 lead. The Pelicans, who had erased a 12-point halftime deficit to briefly lead in the third quarter, had multiple chances to tie or take the lead. Bey missed a driving floater, and after a Kelly Oubre Jr. missed 3-pointer, New Orleans’ Jose Alvarado misfired on a 26-foot attempt with 2:42 left. Embiid secured the defensive rebound, triggering a fast break that ended with Dominick Barlow’s running dunk to extend the lead to four. On the ensuing possession, Alvarado missed another 3-pointer, and Oubre grabbed the board. Embiid was then fouled and made two free throws to push the advantage to 115-109 with 1:50 to play, a cushion the 76ers would not relinquish. Philadelphia had seized control of the game with a massive second quarter, outscoring New Orleans 36-21 to turn a two-point deficit after one period into a 67-54 halftime lead. Embiid scored 16 points in the quarter, part of a 76ers attack that shot 52% from the field in the first half. The Pelicans responded with a 27-20 third quarter, fueled by Bey’s 13 points, to close the gap to 87-81 entering the final period. The fourth quarter featured seven ties and five lead changes as the teams traded baskets. A driving floater by Jeremiah Fears gave New Orleans a 93-90 lead with 9:50 remaining, but Philadelphia answered with a 9-0 run, capped by a Jared McCain 3-pointer, to go ahead 99-93. The Pelicans clawed back, tying the game at 104 on an Alvarado steal and transition 3-pointer with 6:30 left, setting the stage for the tense finish. Oubre, starting in place of the suspended George, recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, along with four assists. Tyrese Maxey facilitated the offense with 18 points and eight assists, while rookie VJ Edgecombe added 15 points and five assists. For New Orleans, Zion Williamson was limited to 11 points and five rebounds in 30 minutes, battling foul trouble and the interior presence of Embiid. Rookie center Yves Missi provided a defensive spark with four blocks and eight rebounds. Philadelphia improved to 27-21 with the win, while New Orleans’ losing streak reached three games. The 76ers next embark on a five-game Western Conference road trip beginning Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Pelicans continue a road swing Monday in Charlotte. The total score of 238 points went over the pregame over/under line of 232.5. Philadelphia covered the spread as 8.5-point favorites. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, the 76ers had an 80% probability to win.

Struggling Pelicans Face Surging 76ers in Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — The Philadelphia 76ers, buoyed by a recent surge, will host the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The 76ers (26-21) have won three of their last four, including a dramatic 113-111 victory over Sacramento on Thursday behind a 40-point, eight-assist performance from Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia sits firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Pelicans (12-37) own the league’s worst record and are coming off a 104-95 loss at Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Their season has been defined by inconsistency, though forward Zion Williamson has been a bright spot, averaging a double-double over his last 10 games. Philadelphia is an 8.5-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with an over/under of 232.5 points. Players to Watch - Pelicans: Forward Zion Williamson is averaging 24.3 points and 10.9 rebounds over his last 10 contests, posting double-doubles in three of his last four outings. He had 21 points and 11 rebounds in the loss to the Thunder. - 76ers: Guard Tyrese Maxey is in elite form, averaging 28.8 points and 8.0 assists over his last 10 games. His 40-point effort against the Kings highlighted his ability to carry the offense, especially with center Joel Embiid (37 points vs. SAC) providing a dominant inside presence. Recent Form Philadelphia has found its rhythm offensively, scoring 128 or more points in three of its last five wins. Their 139-point outburst against Milwaukee on Jan. 27 showcased their high ceiling. New Orleans has shown fleeting competitiveness, with road wins at San Antonio and Memphis last week, but defensively has allowed an average of 118.1 points over its last 10 games. Up Next Following this game, the Pelicans begin a three-game road trip at Charlotte on Monday. The 76ers embark on a challenging five-game Western Conference road trip starting Monday at the Los Angeles Clippers. Game Facts - Tip-off: Saturday, 7 p.m. EST. - Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia. - Records: New Orleans Pelicans (12-37); Philadelphia 76ers (26-21). - Series Note: The teams will meet again in New Orleans on Feb. 21.