Sixers fans were already excited before Monday night's 123-104 home win over the Nuggets, thanks to the return of No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz.
Fultz had been out since October with a shoulder injury, but he returned to score 10 points with eight assists in his first game back. Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Dario Saric added 20 points and six rebounds, and Ben Simmons scored seven points with 13 rebounds and 11 assists.
Fultz (10 points, 8 assists in 14:24) is just the second player in the shot-clock era to finish a game with 10+pts/8+ast with fewer than 15 minutes played.
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) March 27, 2018
Kevin Porter needed just 12 minutes to total 10 points and 8 assists for the Bullets on Feb. 17, 1980. pic.twitter.com/k1GFFy0LNK
Philadelphia fell behind by eight points at halftime, but charged ahead in the third quarter, outscoring Denver 34-15. The 76ers cemented their win with a big fourth quarter, helping them earn their seventh straight win.
Will Barton led the Nuggets with 25 points, but star Nikola Jokic was held to just 14 points and seven rebounds.
With the win, the 76ers (43-30) remained fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, one game behind the Cavs. The Nuggets' loss was softened by the Timberwolves' shocking loss to the bottom-dwelling Grizzlies. However, Denver remained in ninth place in the Western Conference standings.
Stud of the Night:
Hornets point guard Kemba Walker and Knicks point guard Trey Burke were locked in a duel Monday, leading to a 137-128 Hornets win in overtime. Burke scored a career-high 42 points with 12 assists, while Walker scored 31 points and seven assists. Walker also took over in overtime (11 points), helping Charlotte secure the win.
Dud of the Night:
Playing against the team that drafted him, Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored just 13 points on 5-of-17 shooting (3 of 10 from 3-point range) in a 112-106 loss to the Pistons. Lonzo Ball led the Lakers with 15 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, but Caldwell-Pope couldn't find the same success.
Highlight:
Fultz showing off his top-overall pick skills:
. @MarkelleF knockin' down the tough bucket. pic.twitter.com/bcbyzviMWq
— x - Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 27, 2018
What's Next:
Pacers (43-31) at Warriors (54-19) 10:30 p.m. ET — Victor Oladipo and the Pacers have surprised this season thanks to balanced scoring and team defense. Oladipo has looked like the best player in the Paul George trade, and could lead Indiana to playoff success. Golden State has lost three of its last five games and now will likely be without Stephen Curry through the first round of the playoffs.
