By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Joel Embiid might just close the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award debate.
After staying at the no. 2 rank to win the award behind Denver Nuggets’ superstar center Nikola Jokic, Embiid further solidified his case as this year’s best NBA player after putting up a 52-point masterpiece during Philadelphia 76ers’ 103-101 win over the Boston Celtics last April 5, 2023.
Embiid was solid for four-straight quarters and shot an efficient 20/25 from the field including 12/13 shooting from the free throw line.
Aside from his dominant offensive showcase, the versatile big man also grabbed 13 rebounds, assisted the ball six times, and recorded two blocks.
Embiid did his damage in the shaded lane and bullied Boston’s Al Horford and Grant Williams who just can’t stop him every time he caught the leather in both blocks of the paint.
Knowing that Boston’s frontcourt was in early foul trouble, Embiid didn’t settle for outside shots, proof is his only one attempt from the three-point line and muscled his way inside.
Embiid immediately waxed hot from the field and reached the double-digit scoring mark in just seven minutes of playing time.
It was also Embiid who restored order for the 76ers when Boston made a run in the second half, erasing Philadelphia’s lead built for three quarters after a Malcolm Brogdon triple with nine minutes left in the ball game.
After the Philadelphia timeout, head coach Doc Rivers quickly ordered his guys to feed Embiid’s hot hand and he delivered immediately when he buried three mid-range jumpers.
Embiid also sank the clutch baskets down the stretch, one is a foul-counted jump shot from the top of the key that helped the 76ers retake the lead, 89-88, and a monster dunk with 1:24 remaining to put Philadelphia ahead by six points, 98-92.
The Celtics attempted to fight back after Derrick White buried a three-pointer off a bounce pass from Marcus Smart that trimmed the lead to just a deuce, 103-101.
Boston was given another shot to force overtime after Embiid was whistled for a turnover when they inbounded the ball but Jason Tatum’s fade-away shot from the left corner hit the rim and missed.
