It’s as clear as day. Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid is nowhere near 100%. The reigning NBA MVP missed 29 games in the second half of the regular season due to a torn meniscus in his knee. He returned to play only five games ahead of this week’s NBA Play-In Tournament.
As Wednesday’s home date with the Miami Heat was playing out, 76ers fans inside the Wells Fargo Center were growing restless.
The winner would take on the New York Knicks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs with the loser facing a do-or-die game Friday night against either the Atlanta Hawks or Chicago Bulls.
Philadelphia found itself down double digits at halftime. Embiid was obviously not his typical self. Despite obviously being hobbled, the big man willed his team to victory.
With help from the likes of Nicolas Batum and Kelly Oubre Jr. in the second half, Embiid led the 76ers back from a 51-39 halftime deficit to win by the score of 105-104.
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Down 74-71 early in the fourth quarter, Embiid extended his game to beyond the three-point line for a huge trey on an assist from Buddy Hield.
Later in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia found itself down 91-90 after two Embiid free throws. That’s when the game’s most-skilled big man nailed another three-pointer to put the 76ers up.
If that weren’t enough, Embiid showed off his passing skills for an And-1 to Oubre Jr. with the game tied at 96 and less than 40 seconds remaining.
Talk about the big man showing off all of his skills as he willed his team to a win Wednesday night and into the NBA Playoffs.
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NBA world reacts to Joel Embiid’s clutch performance for the Philadelphia 76ers
Typically, the term “clutch” and Embiid have not gone together. His 76ers have dealt with their fair share of postseason failures in recent years. That was not the case late in Wednesday’s game against Miami. The NBA world reacted accordingly.