It is not the first time that great star Joel Embiid has been highlighted by the Philadelphia 76ers.
In the team’s 108-103 win in Boston on Monday night, the 7-foot center had a dominant game that was too much for the Celtics, scoring 41 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals.
Joel Embiid monster game.
41 pts
10 REB
5 AST
2 STL
4 BLACKYou now have the most 40/10/5 (6) games of a Sixer not named Wilt Chamberlain. pic.twitter.com/uvwFbDTS4y
– StatMuse (@statmuse) December 21, 2023
This performance places him alongside some Hall of Fame centers from the past. This was Embiid’s third game of at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four blocks, which is the second most since the blocks became official in 1973-74 and just follow the four of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
It’s the sixth game of his 40-10-5 career, which takes him past Charles Barkley’s count of five, and is the Most in 76ers franchise history since 1982. While those dominating numbers in all respects are staggering, it might have been for naught if it weren’t for Embiid’s late-game takeover against the Celtics.
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The big man exploded for 17 points in the fourth quarter, nine of those points coming from the free throw line, almost beating the hosts who only managed 23 points.
Boston held its biggest lead of the game of seven with four minutes to go, but Embiid was unstoppable. He outscored the Celtics 11-7 in those final four minutes and froze the game with a jumper from the baseline.
Joel Embiid was locked in down the stretch, folks 🔒 pic.twitter.com/ZfrpaGXWya
– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) December 21, 2023
This isn’t the first time he’s stepped up for the 76ers. In the absence of Ben Simmons, the burden on Embiid has increased many folds, but it has been delivered for the team, especially at crucial times.
He leads the league in decisive scoring, averaging 6.3 points per game, the best in the league in 13 games, helping the shortsighted 76ers maintain an 8-5 record in those close games. His average is 1.5 points more than the second best player, which is LeBron James.
While the 76ers haven’t managed to string together too many wins together, even since Embiid’s return, with this win snapping a three-game losing streak, the center surely makes them a must-see.