Joel Embiid, who scored 43 points, was instrumental in Philadelphia's 121-106 win against Chicago in the last round of the NBA, while Miami beat Houston, solidifying his leadership position in the East and the Lakers, without LeBron James, they fell in San Antonio.
Against the Bulls - in his fifth consecutive defeat - the Cameroonian pivot candidate for the MVP trophy, managed for the tenth time this season to score at least 40 points and 10 rebounds (14 exactly, to which he added 3 blocks and 2 steals).
Embiid was well supported by James Harden (16 points, 14 assists, 8 rebounds) and Tyrese Maxey (17 pts) who is increasingly establishing himself as a formidable third offensive weapon.
The Bulls, still fourth in the East Conference, could not avoid the knockout despite Zach LaVine (24 pts) and DeMar DeRozan (23 pts, 11 rebounds).
The 76ers remain second behind the Heat, who also take an 8th victory in ten games, at the expense of the Rockets (123-106), thanks to Tyler Herro (31 points).
Eleven months after the last game, Victor Oladipo, finally healed of a serious quadriceps injury, took the opportunity to lead the comeback (11 points, 4 assists in fifteen minutes).
In the West Conference, Golden State (without Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins) held out in Denver for a long time, until Nikola Jokic shifted the game's inertia.
The Serbian gets his 18 th triple double of the season (32 points, 12/17 shots, 15 rebounds, 13 assists) giving the Nuggets (sixth) the ninth victory in ten matches (131 -124).
Beaten for the fifth consecutive time, the Warriors still give up the second in favor of Memphis.
Dallas (5 / o) was also able to count on Luka Doncic to overcome (111-103) Utah (4th).
The Slovenian prodigy scored 35 points (16 rebounds, 7 assists).
Finally, in San Antonio, the Spurs beat the Lakers (117-110), giving Gregg Popovich victory no.
1,335 of his regular season career, equaling the record of Don Nelson, of which he was a 30-year assistant.