East Notes: Sixers, Joel Embiid, Hawks, Dejounte Murray, Pacers

76ers

Center Joel Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey each scored more than 30 points in Friday’s win over the Magic, the eighth time they’ve done that in the same game. That sets a franchise mark by a duo, overtaking Wilt Chamberlain and Hal Greer in the process (1965-66 season).Joel Embiid

“That’s a cool stat, for sure. Some incredible players there,” coach Nick Nurse told reporters. “I still say there’s a lot more ceiling there, especially with Tyrese. But they should be a pretty good combo for a while.”

  • Embiid (36 points) has now scored at least 30 in 19 straight games, another franchise mark. Maxey (32) has scored at least 20 in 11 straight.
  • Embiid didn’t even play in the fourth quarter. “That’s our job, our group,” Maxey said. “Our job is to take the lead and keep the lead so the big fella can rest. He did a lot in the first three quarters, and our job is to go out there and finish it.”

Hawks

Guard Dejounte Murray, the subject of ongoing trade rumors, hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left to beat the Heat in Miami, spoiling the Undonis Haslem celebration along the way.

“First of all, congratulations to Haslem,” said Murray, who led the Hawks with 22 points in the absence of guard Trae Young, out with an illness. “He’s a real vet, real professional. I call him an OG. I just want to put that out there. But we wanted to spoil that night tonight. We wanted to get that win tonight … so our mentality was win no matter what.”

  • Added coach Quin Snyder: “Can’t say enough about Dejounte. The shot, of course, that was a big-time play.”
  • Murray is being pursued by the Lakers, as we relayed here, and the Bucks, as we wrote here, as well as multiple others. Atlanta is expected to trade him before the Feb. 8 deadline.

Pacers

The era of new forward Pascal Siakam began with a thud, as the Pacers fell to the Trail Blazers in Siakam’s debut. The game also marked the return of point guard Tyrese Haliburton from a five-game absence.

“(Forward Jerami Grant) just got going and we just didn’t do a good enough job with him,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We probably should have double-teamed him earlier. (Former Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon) had a good game. They’re a physical team, they play hard and play well at home. So they earned the win.”

  • Siakam scored 21 points after earning the start. Haliburton also had 21 and 17 assists, a category in which he leads the league.
  • Indiana concludes its six-game trip on Sunday against the Suns.

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