Sixers recent winning is no fluke according to Joel Embiid

After Wednesday's 94-89 win over the Toronto Raptors at the Wells Fargo Center, the Sixers were brimming with confidence and for good reason.

It was the seventh win in the last nine games for the Sixers and it came over a Raptors team that is second in the Eastern Conference with a 28-14 record. Not only that, but it also snapped a 14-game losing streak against the Raptors.

Center Joel Embiid, who had 26 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots in under 27 minutes, says that the Sixers are not accomplishing this winning run with mirrors.

"I don't think it is a fluke," Embiid said afterwards. "We are competing, winning games and playing good defense."

The defense against the Raptors was exemplary. Toronto is averaging 111 points per game, third in the NBA.

"We held them to 89 (points)," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. "Think about that."

Embiid surely did. Utmost in his thoughts was the Raptros shot 34 of 86 from the field (39.5 percent) and 6 of 24 (25 percent) from beyond the arc.

"We are competing and winning games by playing good defense," Embiid said. "We finally found what we were looking for. In the beginning of the season everybody was trying to find themselves, especially me."

He understands there is plenty of improvement ahead.

"I am still only in the 30th game of my career and I have a lot to learn and I am willing to learn," he said.

Actually, Embiid has played 29 games, but who is going to quibble. No. 30 is slated for Friday against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.

The Sixers (14-26) will go in that game armed with plenty of confidence, something that has grown with each passing win.