Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves in a 3–1 hole before Game 5 against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. Add the fact that they were in hostile territory at TD Garden, and things only got tougher.
But just when it mattered most, Embiid rose to the occasion to keep the series alive, helping the 76ers erase a 13-point deficit in the third quarter and outscore the second-seeded Celtics 28–11 in the final period to secure the win and improve to 2-3 in the series.
The 2023 MVP finished with a game-high 33 points, along with four rebounds and eight assists, while shooting 12-for-23 from the field and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. According to ESPN, it marked his eighth 30-point playoff game against the Celtics, the second-most by a 76ers player against a single opponent in franchise postseason history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain.
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Speaking with reporters after the game about overcoming adversity, Embiid made it clear he is anything but lazy and gives his all every time he steps on the floor.
"I know a lot of people might have takes of that I might be lazy or whatever, but every single time I'm on the floor, I want to play as hard as possible. I want to do whatever it takes to win a basketball game," he said.
"I just want to play basketball. It means a lot. I’ve pushed very hard to come back to try and help as much as I can. I did not want to go home, and think about all summer, what could’ve been. One more game and try to make it back here. That’s the mentality. I’m just thankful to be in a position where I get to play. I don’t know how long I have that I can do this," Embiid added.
One of the most dominant big men of his era when healthy, Embiid has been plagued by postseason injuries, including sprains, fractures, and even facial paralysis. This April was no different, as he was diagnosed with appendicitis and underwent emergency surgery in Houston on April 9.
Embiid returned in Game 4 and scored 26 points, but it was not enough to secure a win. On Tuesday, however, the All-Star trio of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George did enough to hold off the Celtics. They will now look to even the series when they host Boston in Game 6 on Thursday.
