Philadelphia 76ers at Chicago Bulls

Embiid, Redick lead way as 76ers beat Bulls 116-96

Considering how far they fell during their rebuilding project, coach Brett Brown can sure appreciate where they are at the moment.

Joel Embiid had 20 points and 10 rebounds, JJ Redick scored 23 and the 76ers hit the 50-win mark for the second year in a row with a 116-96 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.

"I know how difficult it is," Brown said. "In the NBA, when you can have a team that can find 50 wins, it's unique and difficult. I give (this) group credit. We've gone through a few iterations of what the team looks like. We all kind of understand the 50-win milestone goes away quickly when the playoffs begin. As it sits, to get back-to-back 50-win seasons is a great accomplishment for the guys in that locker room."

Brown, in his sixth year, was on the bench for four losing seasons before Philadelphia turned it around. The 76ers broke that run in 2017-18, reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals. They are now closing in on the No. 3 seed, with a two-game lead over idle Boston.

Embiid dominated inside, Redick supplied the outside touch and the 76ers got back to winning after dropping three in a row, even though guard Jimmy Butler missed his second consecutive game because of back tightness.

Embiid had five assists and blocked three shots in his second straight start after missing three in a row. The All-Star center has been dealing with a sore left knee, and the Sixers are managing his workload with the playoffs approaching.

Redick nailed four 3-pointers. Tobias Harris added 16 points. Ben Simmons scored 14, and the 76ers pulled away in the third quarter after grabbing an eight-point halftime lead.

JaKarr Sampson led Chicago with a career-high 29 points. But the Bulls lost for the sixth time in seven games.

"It's big time," said Sampson, signed to a 10-day contract on Sunday. "I'm thankful for the opportunity (coach Jim Boylen has) given me to play big-time minutes in the NBA. It's not often it happens. I've just got to take advantage of my opportunity."

SETTING TONE

Outdueled by fellow MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo in a loss to Milwaukee on Thursday, Embiid scored 14 as the 76ers grabbed a 57-49 halftime lead.

He cut for a thunderous one-handed alley-oop dunk off a feed from Simmons with just over a minute left in the half. A four-point play by Redick got the lead up to 57-47 before Chicago's Walt Lemon Jr. drove for a layup in the closing seconds.

The Sixers put the Bulls away in the third, outscoring them 29-19.

TIP-INS

76ers: Butler, who spent his first six seasons in Chicago, has missed three of the past four games. He was hurt in the Sixers' win at Minnesota on March 30 when he missed an alley-oop lob from Simmons. ... Greg Monroe had nine points in 10 minutes in his first game after signing with Philadelphia on Thursday.

UP NEXT

76ers: Visit Miami on Tuesday.

Bulls: Host New York on Tuesday.

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Regular Season Series

PHI leads series 2-1