Pistons Defeat Sixers: Blake Griffin Scores Career-High 50, Embiid Gets Drummond Ejected

Blake Griffin scored a career-high 50 points as the Detroit Pistons enjoyed a 133-132 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday night.

Griffin was firing on all cylinders as the game went into overtime where he later scored the game-winning free throw after being fouled during a layup which had tied the game at 132-132.

In total, he played 44 minutes and also recorded 14 rebounds and six assists as the 29-year-old also became the first Piston since 2006 to rack up a half century of points in a game.

Reggie Jackson and Ish Smith meanwhile, also combined for 44 points while Reggie Bullock contributed with 17 of his own.

"The energy in the arena, the way we were just playing offensively, we just kept moving, they scored and we just ran it right back at them," Griffin said after the game. "We play like that and buckets come a lot easier."

The Pistons are now 3-0 to start off the regular season and a continued run like this could see them in the playoff picture next year, despite many not having them as likely postseason candidates even with a five-time All-Star in Griffin in their ranks.

With LeBron James in the Western Conference now, many instead see the likes of the Sixers as well as the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors as favorites. Detroit meanwhile, will be looking for just their second playoff appearance since 2009.

"We don't feel snubbed, we just feel like we have a lot to prove," Griffin added of their playoff chances. "We want to there in the mix, we want to make a playoff run and from there anything can happen. We still have a lot of work to do with 79 games left."

One of Griffin's best moments in the game was when he dunked over the towering Joel Embiid during the second quarter.

That wouldn't be the only talking point of the game involving Embiid. Like Griffin, the Cameroonian had a good performance as well, particularly in the absence of Ben Simmons, with 33 points and 11 rebounds in 39 minutes of action.

However, Embiid's only blemish came in the fourth quarter when his on-court antics returned. As he scored a follow-up layup, Detroit center Andre Drummond made contact with his face with Embiid exaggerating the contact and falling to the floor.

He would later call for Drummond to be ejected, appearing to say, "Get him out of here," and celebrated as the referees obliged.

The Sixers are now 2-2 for the season and will face the unbeaten Milwaukee Bucks (3-0) next on Wednesday. The Pistons meanwhile, will look to continue their winning run against the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers (0-3) on Thursday.