Philly Exercises Their Demons While Joel Embiid Continues His MVP March

It appears Joel Embiid has shaken off the rust. Questions looked as to whether or not he would be the same player upon returning from a hyperextended knee that kept him out of action for almost a month. After a rusty performance in his first game back in a loss to the Grizzlies, Embiid and the Sixers bounced back in a big way Tuesday night against their arch rivals the Boston Celtics, with a wire-to-wire 106-96 victory.



The Celtics had no answer for Embiid, who dominated his way to 35 points, shooting 16-20 from the free throw line, while reminding everybody why he was the favorite for this year’s MVP award prior to his absence. It was exactly the type of performance that gives Philly fans hope this could be the year they finally break through in the playoffs. The Celtics did not have anyone able to slow the Sixers star big man down and he took full advantage of it. With the top teams in the East all lacking a big man capable of containing Embiid, the stage is set for him to showcase his newfound maturity by dominating inside throughout the playoffs.

Philly will look to build off this performance on the road this Friday against a New Orleans team hungry for wins. Expect Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons to assert themselves early as they head to the Bayou to square off for the first time with Zion.