Joel Embiid has brought the Philadelphia 76ers to the brink of a second-round series appearance against the winner of the Miami-Atlanta first-round series after sinking the Toronto Raptors, 104-101, with a game-winning three in overtime.
JOEL EMBIID STOP IT MAN (via @espn) pic.twitter.com/Zh46DYZ3Fs
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 21, 2022
Embiid’s dagger not only gave the Kansas alum his first career game-winner but it also gave the Sixers a commanding 3-0 lead over Toronto. The jobs not finished yet but with no team in League history ever coming back from a 3-0 deficit, it’s as close to being finished as you can get.
“That’s the best [shot of my career], but the job is not done,” Embiid said per CBS Sports. “We got one more, so we have to come back here in two days and try to beat them again.”
The loss has to be incredibly deflating for a Raptors team that gave the Sixers as much trouble as possible. Their sense of urgency and intensity was evident as they built a 10-point going into halftime. However, when the best player on the court is wearing different colors, no lead is safe, especially in the NBA. Embiid showed precisely why he’s an MVP front-runner after scoring 18-points in the third quarter, bringing the Sixers to within one going into the final frame.
EMBIID CAUGHT A BODY IN TORONTO!!! (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/M0DjLs0LAU
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 21, 2022
By the way, the 76ers never lead until overtime, which has to be even more challenging for Toronto to accept.
Embiid scored a game-high 33 points and added 13 rebounds, while James Harden and Tyrese Maxey scored 19 apiece. Harden added 10 assists as well. The Sixer’s balanced attack was punctuated by Tobias Harris’ 11 points, 12 rebound double-double.
