Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid found out that he finished second in the NBA MVP voting immediately ahead of his team’s Game 2 outing against the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals Tuesday evening.
Embiid was questionable heading into the game due to a torn meniscus he’s in his left knee. Obviously, the All-Star was not going to miss Tuesday night's game after Philadelphia dropped Game 1 despite him scoring 39 points.
In what was a must-win game for Embiid and his Sixers at home Tuesday night, one of the best centers of the modern era more than stepped up. Philadelphia turned a two-point halftime lead into a blowout 118-102 victory, largely due to Embiid’s otherworldly performance.
The NBA MVP runnerup scored a playoff career-high 40 points on 13-of-25 shooting while grabbing 13 rebounds in a virtuoso overall performance en route to helping Philly even the series at one heading to Atlanta for Game 3.
It was a much-needed performance for Embiid with fellow “star” Ben Simmons scoring just four points on 2-of-3 shooting in yet another ugly offensive outing for the point forward. Those watching the game at home had their reactions.
Give the big fella a new playoff career-high.@JoelEmbiid | #PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/tan3ntuBAL
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) June 9, 2021
defending embiid with gallinari might as well be fighting godzilla with a shovel and some bottle rockets.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) June 9, 2021
I'll say it AGAIN: Give me Embiid over Jokic any day or night.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 9, 2021
SIXERS WIN
— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) June 9, 2021
Embiid drops a playoff career high of 40
PLAY THE SONG!pic.twitter.com/86qtX0eUTQ
Joel Embiid takes a seat, to raucous MVP chants.
— Lauren Rosen (@LaurenMRosen) June 9, 2021
40 PTS / 13 REB / 2 AST / 2 STL / 1 BLK
Joel Embiid new playoff career high
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 9, 2021
40 points
pic.twitter.com/TkuIFRohfk
Joel Embiid is just the fourth player in team history with at least 39 in consecutive playoff games. Iverson (2001), Doc (1977) and Wilt (1967) are the others.
— Ed Barkowitz (@edbarkowitz) June 9, 2021
Joel Embiid, playing on a torn meniscus in his knee, has gone for 39 & 9 in Game 1 and now 40 & 13 in Game 2 against Atlanta.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 9, 2021
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