Joel Embiid put on yet another MVP performance in Sixers win over Miami.
With both rosters seriously depleted due to the NBA’s health and safety regulations, the Sixers and Heat squared off against each other on Tuesday in a game that somewhat resembled a preseason shoot around at times. The Sixers were without key players in Tobias Harris and Seth Curry, and the Heat were missing their two All-Stars: Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
With Butler and Bam both out, the general consensus was that the Sixers should cruise to their eighth win of the season. However, that ended up not really being the case. The game went all the way to overtime, coming down to a few last-second shots from the two sides. Philly ultimately walked away victorious (137-134), and there are three main takeaways worth mentioning:
Joel Embiid continues to look like an MVP
Joel Embiid was the early frontrunner for the league’s MVP award through the first couple of games, before somewhat fizzling out due to some missed action. However, after a dominant showing against Miami, he’s thrust his name right back into that conversation.
Embiid finished the evening with 45 points, 16 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists, and was a perfect 13-13 from the free-throw line. He only missed 7 shots the entire game and knocked in the game-tying jumper to send the game to overtime.
It’s worth mentioning that the Heat didn’t have a single active center during the game, but it was a dominant showing from JoJo regardless.
Danny Green is now in the Sixers history books
After a disgusting performance against the Hawks where he didn’t make a single shot, Danny Green exploded back onto the scene tonight for the Sixers, tying the team’s franchise record for three-pointers made in a game.
He knocked down 9 triples, pouring in a total of 29 points and 10 rebounds. Having him play off the ball once more with Ben Simmons back in the lineup tonight was a huge reason for his success. Green is a spot-up shooter, not a guy who handles the ball.
Isaiah Joe and Dakota Mathias proved they belong.
Isaiah Joe knocked down four threes and had 13 total points off the bench, and Dakota Mathias essentially hit the game-winning three in overtime.
Mathias also locked up Tyler Herro the following possession with the game on the line, forcing the Heat guard into an ugly off-balance three that clanged off the rim.
It wasn’t anything crazy from the two youngsters, but they helped contribute towards a Sixers win tonight, and that’s all you can really ask of them when it’s all said and done.
Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
