NEW ORLEANS - Joel Embiid had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Furkan Korkmaz hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to also score 22 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers pulled away for a 117-97 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.A subplot of the season opener for both teams involved who wasn't playing.New Orleans was without star power forward Zion Williamson, who is recovering from surgery to repair his broken foot.
The Sixers were missing disgruntled forward Ben Simmons, who was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team.While fans at the Philadelphia Flyers' NHL game were engaging in anti-Simmons chants, the Sixers were playing well without him a little more than 1,000 miles to the south in New Orleans.