LOS ANGELES, United States: Joel Embiid’s tough season took another turn for the worse on Friday as Philadelphia’s star center exited early in the 76ers’ 121-107 NBA loss to Indiana after being struck in the face.
The Cameroon-born big man, who won Olympic gold with the United States in Paris this year, was fighting for a rebound under the Pacers’ basket when he was inadvertently elbowed by Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin.
Embiid had 12 points with four rebounds and five assists before departing moments before halftime and the Sixers said after the game he had been diagnosed with a sinus fracture and would be evaluated further over the weekend.
Embiid was playing just his second game back after missing seven contests. He has played just six games this season as he battled a troublesome left knee and served a three-game suspension for an altercation with a journalist.
The Pacers, fueled by 32 points and 11 assists from Tyrese Haliburton, led most of the way. Pascal Siakam added 23 points and eight rebounds and Obi Toppin chipped in 20 points off the bench for Indiana.
Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points to lead Philadelphia, who also saw rookie Jared McCain take a scary hit to the back of the head.
McCain needed help from teammate Paul George to get to the free throw line before briefly exiting, but he cleared concussion protocol and returned to the game.
The league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from a loss to Miami with a 115-105 victory over the Washington Wizards, who suffered their 18th defeat in 19 games.
Darius Garland scored 24 points and Jarrett Allen added 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavs, who improved to 22-4 to bolster their lead over reigning champions Boston atop the Eastern Conference.
Washington, led by 27 points from forward Bilal Coulibaly, kept it close and led by three early in the third quarter.
Cleveland connected on just 39.6 percent of their shots from the field, but they out-shot Washington 28-9 from the free-throw line and parlayed 18 Wizards turnovers into 26 points.
Despite their stellar record, Allen said the Cavs need to “keep improving on the little things.”
“I still think we have a long way to go to be the team that we want to be,” he said.
Elsewhere, Kevin Durant scored 30 points in his return from injury to help the Phoenix Suns beat the Utah Jazz 134-126.
Devin Booker scored 34 points to lead the Suns, who had lost all three games with Durant sidelined by a sprained left ankle.
Anthony Edwards scored 23 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 97-87 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, who were without superstar LeBron James for a second straight game.
Julius Randle scored 21 points, Jaden McDaniels added 18 and Rudy Gobert contributed 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who beat the Lakers for the second time this month.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, was sidelined again by a sore left foot, but the 39-year-old has also been excused from team activities because of personal reasons and coach JJ Redick said before Friday’s game he didn’t know when James would return.
Anthony Davis carried the Lakers’ scoring load with 23 points and 11 rebounds and Austin Reaves returned from a five-game injury absence to score 18.
But the Lakers, who coughed up 22 turnovers, never led.
The Memphis Grizzlies grabbed a fourth straight win, beating the Brooklyn Nets 135-119 behind 28 points and 10 assists from Ja Morant.
Pacers defeat Sixers as Embiid injured after blow to face
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Pacers defeat Sixers as Embiid injured after blow to face
- The Cameroon-born big man was fighting for a rebound under the Pacers’ basket when he was inadvertently elbowed by Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin
Seahawks soar to Super Bowl win over Patriots
- The Seattle Seahawks coasted to Super Bowl glory Sunday, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize
SANTA CLARA: The Seattle Seahawks coasted to Super Bowl glory Sunday, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize.
Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and some 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy.
“It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Darnold.
The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display, and kicker Jason Myers’ five field goals — the most ever by one player in a Super Bowl.
But it was a night to forget for Darnold’s counterpart Drake Maye, who was sacked six times and threw two interceptions, failing in his bid to become the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl at 23.
Bad Bunny performed the half-time show, singing entirely in Spanish in a Super Bowl first.
One of the world’s biggest artists, Bad Bunny has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump’s brutal and divisive immigration crackdown.
His vibrant show, featuring cameos from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, largely avoided politics.
That did not stop Trump — who did not attend — taking to social media to dub it an “affront” to the United States, claiming that no one could understand the performance.
’Evil Empire’
An initially cagey game featured no touchdowns for either side in the first three quarters, with the Patriots stifled and the Seahawks largely playing it safe, relying on Kenneth Walker.
The running back managed 135 rushing yards across the night, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
“We went through a lot of adversity this year, but we came together and stuck together and this is what we got,” said Walker, after the game.
Super Bowl LX sprang to life in the final quarter, with four touchdowns.
Darnold led things off with his endzone pass to A.J. Barner, before the hitherto scoreless Patriots hit back with Maye finding Mack Hollins for a touchdown.
Seattle compounded the misery with yet another Maye sack resulting in a turnover and a career-first touchdown for linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, before the Patriots managed another consolation visit to the end zone.
It all meant Seattle avenged its loss to the Patriots in the Seahawks’ previous Super Bowl appearance, back in 2015.
For the Patriots, a franchise once so dominant they were dubbed the “Evil Empire,” it was a disappointing night to end a season in which they had been reborn under coach of the year Mike Vrabel.
The storied franchise could not secure a record seventh Super Bowl, and their first since the departure of Tom Brady.
Porous Patriots
More than 120 million Americans were expected to watch the biggest event in US sports, which took place at the 75,000-capacity Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Seahawks boasted a vocal majority of fans from the kickoff, and their early nerves were settled with a field goal from the game’s very first drive.
New England’s porous offensive line was continually overwhelmed, the team pinned deep in its own territory, as Seattle added two more field goals for a 9-0 lead at the break.
Bad Bunny’s half-time performance came as a welcome respite for New England, with Internet memes quickly joking that the superstar had “gained more yards than the Patriots” as he strutted through his colorful set.
The Seahawks picked up where they left off, with Walker’s legs powering Seattle up the field for Myers to extend the lead.
Seattle finally managed the game’s first touchdown. Darnold’s 16-yard pass found tight end Barner in the deep right corner of the endzone.
With the night threatening to turn into farce, a topless streaker evaded security efforts.
This time the break in play briefly sparked New England to life. Maye found Hollins with a stunning 35-yard sling for a touchdown and the Patriots’ first points, narrowing the game to 19-7.
But it proved in vain, as Nwosu sealed the win before Rhamondre Stevenson ran in a late consolation touchdown.
It was sweet vindication for the humble Darnold, once a highly drafted youth who played for four NFL franchises before his stunning debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate victory.
“So proud of my guys. I can’t say enough great things about our defense and special teams,” said Darnold.
“I know we won the Super Bowl. We could have been a little bit better on offense but I don’t care about that right now. An unbelievable feeling.”
