WATCH: “He’s the MVP!” Joel Embiid twists and turns to hit a game winning basket as the 76ers stage a famous comeback win over the Trail Blazers
Joel Embiid's last-second jumper secures Philadelphia 76ers' comeback victory over Portland Trail Blazers.
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Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers converted a spectacular fade-away jump jumper with only 1.1 seconds remaining on the clock to clinch a 120-119 comeback victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. Despite Under pressure from Jusuf Nurkic and Damian Lillard’s double-team, Embiid successfully buried the game-winning jumper, adding to his outstanding 39-point effort. This shot also handed the 76ers the lead after they trailed by 21 points in the first half.
“To be able to come back in a game like that, when you are down one, you have to make those plays,” said Embiid. Despite struggling from the floor, James Harden also contributed 19 points for Philadelphia. The Philadelphia 76ers won their fourth consecutive game, with Tyrese Maxey and DeAnthony Melton contributing 13 points each to the team’s victory.
Anfernee Simons was the top scorer for the Portland team with an outstanding performance of 34 points, of which he made 8 out of 12 shots from the 3-point range. Jerami Grant scored 24 points, while Damian Lillard contributed 22 points to the team’s overall score.
Simons’ availability for the game was uncertain until the last minute, as he had missed seven out of the last eight games of the Portland team due to an injury in his right ankle. Despite this, he made a remarkable comeback and performed well, hitting five out of six three-point shots during the first half of the game. Portland’s early shooting was also impressive, with the team making 26 out of its first 38 shots from the floor, enabling them to build a substantial lead of 21 points.
The 76ers’ victory was a testament to their resilience and ability to turn the game around despite facing a significant deficit early on. Joel Embiid was once again leading from the front for the 76ers and proved why he is one of the frontrunners for the MVP award this season. This win puts them in good stead as they look ahead to their next game against the Sacramento Kings.
Related: Dominant Joel Embiid puts on a defensive clinic to lock up the Milwaukee Bucks
Will Joel Embiid be able to surpass Nikola Jokic in the race for the 2022-23 NBA MVP title?
Joel Embiid has established himself as one of the NBA’s most dominant players. He’s currently tied for first place in the league’s scoring category with an impressive 33.3 points per game, setting a personal record. Nevertheless, his exceptional performance is not limited to his offensive skills alone. Embiid’s defense is also excellent, positioning him as one of the league’s most outstanding two-way players.
In a recent game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Embiid made a clutch go-ahead 3-pointer with just over 40 seconds left, helping the 76ers snap the Bucks’ 16-game win streak. He finished the game with an impressive 31 points, ten assists, and six rebounds.
Embiid also led the 76ers to victory over Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, with a massive 47 points and 18 rebounds in that game. The big man’s ability to perform in games against other top MVP candidates is an essential measuring stick, and he’s proving to be a force to be reckoned with.
The Philadelphia 76ers, under Joel Embiid’s leadership, currently hold the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, trailing the first-place Milwaukee Bucks by only four games. As the regular season nears its end, all attention is on Embiid to see if he can propel the 76ers to the top of the conference and possibly secure the MVP title.
However, Nikola Jokic himself is having a spectacular season and has led the Nuggets to the second-best record in the league. It will be intriguing to see who of the two dominant big men will take home the MVP honors.
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Vivek Yadav
(624 Articles Published)