Philadelphia 76ers jump back into third seed with win over Sacramento Kings

Benyam Kidane

Philadelphia 76ers jump back into third seed with win over Sacramento Kings image

The Philadelphia 76ers finish off their three-game homestand with a 123-114 win over the Sacramento Kings.

All five starters scored in double figures, with Joel Embiid leading the way with 21 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks, while  Jimmy Butler added 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

With the win, the 76ers move back into the third seed in the Eastern Conference, leapfrogging the Indiana Pacers, who jumped ahead after Friday's last-gasp win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams hold a 44-25 record, with the 76ers holding the tie-breaker advantage.

Tobias Harris and JJ Redick each scored 19 points, while Ben Simmons chipped in 18 points and five rebounds as the 76ers won their third-straight game.

Embiid was a force on both sides of the floor, coming up with some big defensive plays down the stretch, blocking Willie Cauley-Stein shot and stealing the ball from Harrison Barnes, before draining a jumper to extend the 76ers lead to 121-114 with 1:15 remaining. 


The 76ers improve their home record to 28-9 on the season and 14-2 when all five starters score in double figures, per Sixers Stats.

Harrison Barnes and De’Aaron Fox each scored 16 points for the Kings, who have now lost seven of their past nine games, further denting their playoff hopes. 

Benyam Kidane

Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor and has been covering the league for The Sporting News since 2016. In his spare time you can find him watching Allen Iverson highlights on repeat.