The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to maintain home-court advantage in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Toronto Raptors Thursday evening.
If the early part of Game 3 is any indication, it’s going to be a pretty physical battle. Just ask Sixers big man Joel Embiid, who started the game by sending Kawhi Leonard back with an emphatic block in the first quarter.
An argument could be made that this was a foul. But we’re talking playoff basketball. This isn’t October.
Embiid has been a physical presence throughout the playoffs. After dropping 45 in Game 1, Leonard felt this first hand Thursday evening in Philly.