Heroic masked Embiid returns to lift 76ers to crucial Game 3 win as Mavericks finally end Suns jinx
3 min read
What was missing was the hero’s cape, as Embed scored 18 points to help keep the 76ers’ playoff dreams alive with a 99-79 victory at the Wells Fargo Center.
Adding a game high of 11 rebounds and an assist, Embed’s efforts helped the 76ers reduce their hat-trick advantage to 2-1 in the fourth straight series of seven.
Tyres Maxi, along with Danny Green, scored 21 points for the 76ers, a perfect combination for the return of his team’s MVP candidate – Embiid wears No. 21.
“I am just happy to be 21. [jersey] Hanging in the locker room, “Maxi told reporters.
“He’s a soldier. Thumb, mask, hesitation, broken face – he looks even uglier now – he’s a flexible man, he’s an MVP for a reason.
“Only the attention he demands is great for us, and only a testimony to his will and desire to win.”
To struggle
Cameron’s return marked the culmination of a rapid recovery, only to be upgraded from ‘out’ to ‘suspicious’ by the 76ers on Friday morning.
“It was a struggle,” Ambedkar admitted. “Really hesitant and dealing with a bunch of symptoms, but I’m glad it’s gone and I’m glad I’m back.”
Embed’s return marks a bitter night for Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler, who said earlier this week that he would like to see the 76ers star return to compete against his personal MVP nomination.
Butler’s wish came true and he faced a challenge against his former team with a game high of 33 points, which included nine rebounds and two assists, but he was totally at the helm. Tyler Hero was the team’s second highest scorer with 14 points, and no one reached double digits.
Heat will have until Sunday to sort out his problems before returning to the Wells Fargo Center for Game 4.
“You add Joel to any team; the game, the scout report, it changes a lot,” Butler said. “It’s been like this for the rest of his career.
“That’s not why we lost the game – we didn’t come back, we flipped the ball, we didn’t get a stop, we fouled, there was a lot of that – but that’s a big part of it. “
Donk
Meanwhile, in the Western semifinals, the Dallas Mavericks pulled off a 113-game losing streak to the Phoenix Suns and pulled themselves back into the series with a 103-94 victory.
Maverick’s dynamic duo of Jalen Brunson and Luka Doncic stunned with 28 and 26 points respectively, Doncic easily lost in the triple double with 13 rebounds and nine assists as he continued his impressive run in the playoffs.
The Slovenian is the seventh player in NBA history to average 35 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the first three games of the series, according to ESPN statistics and data.
“Energyman, I think energy was crazy,” Donk said. “It simply came to our notice then. The crowd was amazing throughout the game.
“We relied on the energy and action we were better at, and that’s what we have to do in every game.
“We’re sure they’ll have to win four, so it’s not over yet,” Donk added.
“It felt like seven of them were falling behind,” Paul said. “If I don’t turn the ball that way, I think it’s a different game.”
Jay Crowder’s 19 points lead to scoring for the Sons, who will have a chance to close the series back in Phoenix if they bounce back with a win to level it 3-1 for Game 4 on Sunday.