Joel Embiid

The Sixers big man looks ready for a potential playoff series against Boston. But what about his teammates?

[Robert Williams](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/robert-williams-LEhMNrHYNoFDLqTs/) and [Jaylen Brown](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jaylen-brown-EAiBkBxmqCrObLg7/), Boston was right there with Philly on Tuesday. [Philadelphia](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/sixers/). And the help is supposed to be from the corner guy on the other side.” After the game, he was asked if he agreed with Rivers and his teammates’ suggestions that he had locked up the award. Embiid gave up two 3s in the final minutes helping off Horford and Grant Williams in the same-side corner, but the blow-by is an original sin. [Tyrese Maxey](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/tyrese-maxey-ZaAqNko77dWsPkHu/) is the perfect encapsulation of the Sixers’ struggles against Boston. Tucker](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/pj-tucker-0006UTyygqp6XboZ/) had not made three 3-pointers in a game all season. The Celtics’ doubling schemes, which have worked in the past, might not prove to be a panacea in a potential playoff series. The decision to focus on that area of the floor was made with the postseason in mind. “Obviously, it gives me a lot of space, and like I said, it’s so much harder to double there than in the post.” In a week and a half, the Celtics and Sixers will begin first-round playoff series that both teams will be heavily favored to win. The Sixers can score off that screen, but against Boston, it was merely window dressing to clear room for Embiid isolations.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is one of the frontrunners for the 2023 MVP award. Matt Slocum/Associated Press. CNN —.

“I think what our team has been able to do – and we’ve still got some more work, you know, to have the best record in the league. Incredibly, this is only good enough for fifth-best in the NBA but shows how he has developed his offensive game again this season. Embiid has also been developing his playmaking throughout the season. Again, not to be confused with a player a foot smaller than him, Embiid has scored multiple ridiculous step-back threes this season – leaving fans and defenders questioning what they have seen from a player of his size. Embiid is currently leading Jokić by a mere two points. [third player in ](https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1640576084340101126) [NBA](https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1640576084340101126) [ history](https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1640576084340101126) to have 10+ games with 20-15-10 in a season – joining legendary hoopers Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson. Embiid averages 1.7 blocks per game with one steal per game. “That leap turned heads and put [the Sixers] in a great position. [Joel is the hardest person to guard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9WjNqOOjVU)” in the league, after previously saying on his podcast that the MVP award is now “ [Joel’s to lose.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIiDoB-Hin4)” Each panelist will vote for their top five players from the regular season. [slight favorite](https://www.vegasinsider.com/nba/odds/mvp/) for the prize after an incredible run of form in Philadelphia – a reward many will feel is deserved after his dominance in the NBA over the last three years. [ESPN’s final MVP straw poll](https://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/35983235/nba-mvp-straw-poll-30-why-margin-joel-embiid-nikola-jokic-become-razor-thin) is anything to go by, the race between Embiid and Nikola Jokić could be the closest race in history.

Joel Embiid torched the Celtics for 52 points Tuesday night and the Sixers hung on for a 103-101 win at Wells Fargo Center. By Noah Levick.

Embiid had answer after answer when Boston came close to overtaking the Sixers in the third. The Sixers were very far from flawless in the final seconds, though. Harris subbed in for Niang and McDaniels nailed an after-timeout three, but the Sixers still appeared extremely reliant on Embiid's greatness to win. Tucker drained two clutch threes from the left corner and one from the right. Regardless of the opposition, it’s clearly important in the playoffs for the Sixers to have Harris not hesitating on open three-point shots and chipping in when defenses force the ball from their stars' hands. Early in the third quarter, Maxey pump faked a three and then got whistled for an offensive foul in his attempt to find a good look off the dribble. stop on Brogdon helped the Sixers keep their lead entering the fourth. He scored 18 of the Sixers’ 28 points in the first quarter, hitting 6 of 7 field goals and 6 of 7 free throws. [Unlike Sunday night in Milwaukee](https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/sixers-bucks-joel-embiid-giannis-antetokounmpo-tyrese-maxey-sixers-nba), the Sixers’ opponent had a cold shooting start; Boston began 1 for 9 from the field and 0 for 5 from three-point range. A 1-for-6 first half dropped Maxey to 8 for his last 30 from the floor vs. With Reed on the floor, there’s far less reason to be concerned about a switch-everything defensive approach than with the typical backup big man. However, the Sixers eventually paid for a few defensive miscues and the Celtics looked more threatening in transition.

Joel Embiid put up 52 points while shooting 20-of-25 from the field on Tuesday night.