By: Jesse Larch, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid combined for 30 points in the first half to lead the charge as the Sixers buried the Detroit Pistons on Friday night at Wells Fargo Center by a score of 114-78 for their fourth consecutive victory.
The Pistons scored on their first possession after winning the opening tip, but then Ben Simmons took over the game and led the Sixers to a 15-0 run.
Simmons scored eight points, dished two assists, and grabbed a rebound in the first three minutes of the game, putting the Pistons on triple-double watch early.
The Sixers cruised through the first quarter and held a 32-15 lead after one quarter.
Picking up right where they left off in the first, the Sixers used an 11-0 run in the start of the second quarter to extend the lead to 42-17.
Simmons, along with Joel Embiid severely outmatched the Pistons throughout the first half, scoring 15 points each and combining to shoot 13-of-20 in the half.
The Sixers suffocated the Pistons and took a mammoth 63-32 lead into halftime.
Embiid added eight rebounds to his 15 points, while Simmons left his mark in all areas of the floor by adding three rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block to his scoring.
J.J. Redick also added 12 points in the dominant first half.
Embiid kept rolling in the second half by hitting a three on the first possession of the second half.
The Sixers stretched the lead to as many as forty points with help from Robert Covington who overcame a scoreless first half to drop 11 points in third quarter. Covington's quarter meant that all five of the Sixers starters scored in double figures in the game.
Ben Simmons exited after picking up his fourth foul half way through the third quarter, marking the end of his night. All of the starters were pulled after the third quarter.
The Sixers led 97-61 heading into the final quarter.
The beginning of the fourth quarter marked the return of Justin Anderson who missed the past 23 games with shin splints. Brett Brown emptied the bench along with Anderson in the fourth as the Sixers had the game sealed before the start of the fourth quarter.
It was the fourth straight win for the Sixers and fifth win in the last six games. The Sixers improved to 19-19 on the season and have reached a .500 record for the first time since Decmeber 18.
Joel Embiid led all scorers with 23 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes.
Ben Simmons finished with 19 points, nine assists, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 23 minutes.
J.J. Redick (21), Dario Saric (11), Robert Covington (11) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (13) also scored in double figures.
The Sixers shot 48.9% from the field and an unconscious 46.7% from long range. The Sixers out-rebounded the Pistons 55 to 34.
The Sixers will play next in London against the Boston Celtics next Thursday afternoon.
