Joel Embiid scored a playoff career-high 36 points as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Washington Wizards 132-103 to take a 3-0 series lead.

Embiid achieved his point total in 28 minutes, with the Wizards not double-teaming Embiid as aggressively as they did earlier in the series.

"It was one-on-one, and I wanted to take advantage of it. I guess that's on them to make that choice," Embiid said. "It's hard to stop me if you send a double-team or not."

Embiid is averaging 30.6 points on 67% shooting in the series.

The Sixers shot 59% in the game, while making 17-of-33 from the three-point line. 

The Philadelphia 76ers have revoked the season ticket membership of the fan who dumped popcorn on Russell Westbrook. The fan has also been banned from all events at Wells Fargo Center indefinitely.

The 76ers also apologized to Westbrook.

"We apologize to Russell Westbrook and the Washington Wizards for being subjected to this type of unacceptable and disrespectful behavior," wrote the team in a statement. "There is no place for it in our sport or arena."

Ben Simmons scored 22 points in the Philadelphia 76ers' 120-95 win over the Washington Wizards in Game 2.

Simmons, who was criticized for a lack of scoring in Game 1, added nine rebounds and eight assists.

"I'm not trying to stick to anybody in Philly," said Simmons after the game. "I thought it was pretty hard to get 15 assists and 15 rebounds in the NBA in the playoffs. I thought that was pretty impressive. And we won. What y'all want? You want to win? For me, I'm here to win and I'm doing what I need to do to help my team win, whatever it is. I'm not trying to prove anybody wrong or anything like that. I'm trying to do my job to win."

Doc Rivers defended Simmons following his Game 1 performance, saying "if you guys don't know the treasure you have by now, then shame on everyone."

Simmons added that he appreciated Rivers' comments, saying that those who criticize him don't understand the game.

"That's the point of basketball, right? People who have it going, you have to give them the ball. I'm not surprised Doc said that because Doc knows the game. A lot of these people who are saying things haven't played the game."

Tobias Harris scored a playoff career high 37 points as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Washington Wizards 125-118 in Game 1.

"Yesterday I was watching NBA games, and I was kind of surprised. I said, 'Man, all these games are really close.' It wasn't like a real big spread in any of them," said Harris following the game. "And I think this whole playoffs, game in and game out, you're gonna see dogfights from all around the league."

Bradley Beal scored 33 points for the Wizards, who were up 62-61 at halftime. 

Joel Embiid dismissed the idea that the Sixers layoff was the reason for the Sixers slow start.

"You know we've been there," said Embiid, who added 30 points. "And we also have a goal, and to get to that goal, we got to get through these guys. So you know, the mindset is just me, it doesn't matter if it's a week or two weeks off, it doesn't matter if we haven't played in a while. That should not be an excuse."

Doc Rivers added that the Sixers would have to improve their transition defense in Game 2. 

"I mean, this team, over all the teams, they're going to force you to load to the ball and then get back out to your guy. I didn't think we did a very good job of it; second half I thought it was great.

"So we have a blueprint now to watch tomorrow and go over."

The Philadelphia 76ers clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time in twenty years following their win over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

The top seed also means that the Sixers are on the opposite side of the bracket as the Bucks and the Nets.

"It's an accomplishment. I don't want to downplay it, but I told our guys to enjoy, I don't want to call it a moment, I told them to enjoy the second, because it's not what we want, but it's part of what you can get on the way to what you want," said Doc Rivers after the game.

The Sixers currently have the best home record in the East at 27-7.

Joel Embiid said that getting the top seed was important due to their dominance at home.

"Being the top seed helps a lot from home-court advantage. Definitely helps a lot as we've been dominant at home. We barely lose here... So it means a lot to have the No. 1 seed."

Dwight Howard has been suspended one game without pay for receiving his 16th technical foul of the 2020-21 season.

Under NBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game once he receives his 16th technical foul during a regular season. For every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season, the player or coach will be automatically suspended without pay for an additional game.

Howard received his most recent technical foul with 10:19 remaining in the second quarter of the 76ers’ 106-94 loss to the Miami Heat on May 13 at AmericanAirlines Arena. Howard will serve his suspension tonight when the 76ers play host to the Orlando Magic at Wells Fargo Center.

The Philadelphia 76ers discussed trading Ben Simmons for James Harden both before and after during the season, according to sources that spoke with Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Both Doc Rivers and Joel Embiid hoped the 76ers would give the pairing with Simmons another opportunity.

"I love that we stuck with it," Rivers told ESPN. "They're young. Give them a chance."

If the 76ers were going to run it back, the entire team would have to self-reflect.

"Last year, no one knew their roles," Embiid said. "People were just doing whatever they wanted. And I'm not the type of guy to come in and just jack up shots."

rivers told Embiid that he would clarify roles early on and that they would play through him in the post more.

"I did that day one," Rivers says. "'We are playing through Joel. But Ben [Simmons] is the facilitator.'"

The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to sign Gary Clark to a Two-Way deal.

Clark has appeared in 37 games this season with the Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets. Clark was waived by Denver in April.

Danny Green was critical of the Philadelphia 76ers even despite their 109-107 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

“Not our type of basketball. We’re getting wins, but I don’t like the way we’ve been getting them. We’ve got to be more locked in. ... if we’re going to play like the No. 1 team in the East or a championship contender, a team that wants to be the last team standing with the potential we can play, we need to do a lot better.

"I think when guys see these teams, they feel like, ‘All right, we only need to play offense.’ … Like I said, we’re just not playing the right way, offensively or defensively," said Green after the game.

The Sixers are currently on a seven game win streak and are the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Doc Rivers said he wasn't concerned about the team's performance, even with some ups and downs.

“I’m not worried about it. I go all (67) games; they’ve been pretty good overall. We went through stretches this year, if you remember, where the starters weren’t playing well. It’s just ebbs and flows of a long season. I’ve learned long ago, if you overreact, you get yourself in trouble. So I’m not that concerned at all.”