James Harden on Joel Embiid: That’s the MVP right there

Lauren Rosen: James Harden on Joel Embiid’s game-winner: “That’s the MVP of the league right there.”
Source: Twitter @LaurenMRosen

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Joel Embiid has a message for Drake and the rest of the Raptors after a Game 3 win #Sixers sixerswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/21/six… via @SixersWire – 1:45 AM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Joel Embiid reveals he did hurt his wrist in the Game 3 win over the Raptors on the road #Sixers sixerswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/21/joe… via @SixersWire – 1:28 AM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Joel Embiid and the rest of the team react to the game-winning triple to beat the Raptors in Game 3 in Toronto #Sixers sixerswire.usatoday.com/lists/joel-emb… via @SixersWire #NBA – 1:07 AM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Joel Embiid on hitting game-winner in TO: “During this whole series, I haven’t really thought about coming in here and trying to get my revenge. I think I’m more focused about trying to win the whole thing one game at a time and trying to do whatever’s necessary to get us there” – 1:00 AM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Joel Embiid (finally) came into the press conference room with a splint on his right hand/wrist/thumb. Said he thinks he twisted it. When @Keith Pompey asked if the injury could potentially keep him out of Saturday’s Game 4, Embiid said “no chance.” – 12:51 AM

James Harden @JHarden13
big win for the gang! pic.twitter.com/NjzCYSgVOg – 12:49 AM

Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
Joel Embiid commended Toronto fans in the building for their passion tonight:
“I enjoy it. I love it…
Then that last shot – everybody’s quiet. I enjoy seeing them go home.” – 12:45 AM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Joel Embiid sporting a soft cast on his right wrist. He did say that he twisted it a little, but he said he’s fine. #Sixers pic.twitter.com/m5CgoY91hZ – 12:43 AM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Embiid: “They were complaining so much about officiating, so I hope they were happy tonight” – 12:38 AM

Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
Joel Embiid on the game-winner:
“It felt great. Obviously we know what happened a couple years ago.
They’ve got great fans. They’re loud. I knew coming into Toronto, I was definitely going to be the bad guy.
It felt great, but the job is not done. We’ve got to get one more.” – 12:35 AM

Michael Grange @michaelgrange
“That’s one of my favorite spots … all I had to do was finish it” — Embiid said of his game winner. “It felt great, especially after what happened here a couple of years ago.” pic.twitter.com/7jB5QLs3UY – 12:35 AM

Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
Joel Embiid on his game-winner tonight:
“Great play call. Tobias set an amazing screen. Danny had a great pass. All I had to do was finish it.” – 12:33 AM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Joel Embiid came in wearing a brace on his left hand. Said he isn’t sure what happened to it but started bothering him during the game and they’ll learn more about what’s wrong with it tomorrow. – 12:33 AM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Joel Embiid is wearing a soft brace on his wrist after the game, said it got twisted at some point during the game – 12:33 AM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Tyrese Maxey on Joel Embiid’s game-winner: “I knew the ball was going to him. When he caught it, I don’t know. I have nothing to say. that was crazy, man. Joel is Joel.” – 12:19 AM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Doc Rivers on Embiid’s final shot: “Execution down the stretch before overtime was sloppy, then the last play they ran it right. You still need Joel to make a fadeaway jump shot.” – 12:18 AM

Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Judging by the reception Embiid has received on Twitter for some time now, seems like if the players had a vote in some capacity, Embiid would the overwhelming favorite for MVP. – 11:54 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
James Harden on Joel Embiid’s shot: “That’s the MVP of the league right there.” #Sixers – 11:41 PM

Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
James Harden on Joel Embiid’s game-winner:
“That’s the MVP of the league right there.” – 11:41 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
James Harden on Joel Embiid: “That’s the MVP of the league right there.” – 11:41 PM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Embiid beats Toronto at the overtime buzzer for a 3-0 lead
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/13… – 11:40 PM

David MacKay @DavidMacKayNBA
Nothing can give me back the time I’ve spent bemoaning Kawhi’s 2019 bounce of destiny, but watching that Embiid highlight a few dozen times should help ease the pain. – 11:24 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Tobias Harris said he and Joel Embiid talked about the 2019 playoff loss and what it meant to come into this building and win a playoff game #Sixers – 11:24 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Tobias Harris said he and Joel Embiid have talked about losing to Toronto in 2019 and what it means to come back here and win against the Raptors. – 11:23 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Tobias Harris said Drake was talking smack to Joel Embiid during the game telling him that he can’t play here. Harris told Drake that yeah, he can play here. #Sixers – 11:23 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Joel Embiid is the first center with a game-winning/go-ahead three in a playoff game in the last 25 seasons.
Shaq with a three-point shot is unfair. pic.twitter.com/rMkSHUx199 – 11:22 PM

Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
Tobias Harris (@Tobias Harris) says Drake was chirping at Joel Embiid in the first half.
“Drake was over there saying, ‘He can’t play here.’”
Tobias’ response to Drake?
“I was like, he can play here, for sure.”
🔥 – 11:19 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Tobias Harris says Embiid had a very famous doubter talking trash during the game. “Drake was over there saying he can’t play here. And I said to him, he can play here, for sure.” – 11:18 PM

Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
Tobias Harris said Drake told him that Embiid “can’t play here” in the first half. – 11:18 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Joel Embiid shakes off rough start, hits game-winning 3-pointer in OT in 76ers-Raptors Game 3 nba.nbcsports.com/2022/04/20/joe… – 11:09 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Tatum/Harden tonight:
19 PTS 19
6 REB 6
10 AST 10
3 TOV 3
2 3P 2 pic.twitter.com/aqoduiAL7P – 11:07 PM

Barbara Barker @meanbarb
Meanwhile, James Harden is one win away from advancing to the second round with Philly. Had 19 points and 10 assists and six rebounds tonight. – 11:04 PM

Trey Kerby @treykerby
Two wild shots from Embiid in OT. Shades of Tim Duncan and Reggie Miller. pic.twitter.com/5lRoyfEt7Z – 10:57 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
The Sixers quite literally tried to give away this game with a rampant turnover problem. But Joel Embiid, at the center of that issue in the first half, put the Sixers in his backpack and carried them to a 3-0 series lead phillyvoice.com/sixers-vs-rapt… – 10:56 PM

Zach Kram @zachkram
Embiid should’ve bounced his game-winner in Toronto off the rim 4 times instead of swishing it, for old times’ sake – 10:56 PM

Mike Lynch @SportInfo247
Before his game-winner tonight Joel Embiid was 0-16 (including his miss late in 4th qtr) on potential go-ahead shots in the final 10 seconds of 4th Qtr/OT. That was more misses than any other player with no makes in that situation since 96-97 per @Stathead stathead.com/tiny/bGY7j – 10:53 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Joel Embiid has been double-teamed (sometimes triple-teamed) the entire series. He’s still averaging:
27.7 PPG
13.0 RPG
51.0 FG%
Unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/5dQynI0c78 – 10:53 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Don’t let Joel Embiid game-winner distract you from the fact that Doc Rivers’ team overcame a 17-point deficit to win a game they never led in regulation 🤐
What they say about apologies not being as loud as disrespect? pic.twitter.com/l50ggEyqut – 10:52 PM

Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
The NBA is in a ridiculous place when 7-footers can hit the kind of shot Embiid just. And not just one 7-footer, several of them. The skill level in the league right now is just amazing. – 10:52 PM

Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
OG 1/2 fts w/ about 26 sec left. Ties game at 101.
Raps nearly force PHI into a turnover…& then a near shot clock violation.
Rivers smartly calls a timeout w/ 2.6 sec left.
Embiid hits an incredible 3pt w/ 0.8 sec remaining.
TOR gets nothin at the buzzer.
PHI wins 104-101 – 10:51 PM

Cody Taylor @CodyTaylorNBA
Here is a tweet about Joel Embiid 🔥 – 10:50 PM

Thon Maker @ThonMaker14
Embiid should’ve squatted for 3 seconds after that bucket! Tough!🔥
#Playoffs pic.twitter.com/wmNt6iORt6 – 10:50 PM

Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
was Embiid yelling heck yea – 10:50 PM

Jason Dumas @JDumasReports
I know it’s a regular season award, but Jokic is going to win MVP and he’s currently being targeted and hunted on defense on every possession. Meanwhile, Embiid has taken it to another level.
The award show this year will feel empty. – 10:50 PM

Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
What a moment for Joel Embiid. – 10:49 PM

J. Michael Falgoust @ThisIsJMichael
0.9 seconds left. ATO. SLOB. Tied score at 101. Embiid does this 👀👀👀👀 #SixersRaptors pic.twitter.com/coIiC3VTtN – 10:49 PM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Embiid bailing out some terrible late-game offense.
and, man, those missed free throws are gonna haunt Precious. – 10:49 PM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Sixers win 104-101 to go up 3-0. Embiid with a huge three. #StraightGangstaFlow – 10:49 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Joel Embiid tonight:
33 PTS
13 REB
12-20 FG
And a game winning three. pic.twitter.com/fYRdGa5QIV – 10:48 PM

Jon Johnson @jonjohnsonwip
Embiid just made me swoon – 10:48 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Final: 76ers 104, Raptors 101.
Sixers take a 3-0 lead in the series.
Joel Embiid had 28 points in the second half and overtime – including the dagger 3 with .8 seconds left in OT to win it. Incredible performance. – 10:48 PM

Matthew Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
It’s gotta feel so damn good for Embiid to do that in Toronto after what happened a few years ago. – 10:47 PM

John Gonzalez @JohnGonzalez
those last possessions by Embiid were so ba…never mind oh my god retire his number – 10:47 PM

Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
Joel Embiid is, quite simply, the best player in basketball. – 10:47 PM

Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
EMBIID. BANGARANG. pic.twitter.com/tL0aSq5rMn – 10:47 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
First playoff game in Toronto since the championship and this is what Embiid does huh pic.twitter.com/LW20OYie45 – 10:47 PM

Michael Lee @MrMichaelLee
Joel Embiid with his Kawhi moment in Toronto – 10:47 PM

Chris Broussard @Chris_Broussard
Great shot by Embiid, but still, “don’t fear the paint, big fella!” – 10:47 PM

Ryan McDonough @McDNBA
Joel Embiid are you kidding me!
His skill level at 7’1 is absolutely remarkable – 10:46 PM

Maurice Brooks @MauriceABrooks
I love @Joel Embiid 🔔 – 10:46 PM

Chris Herring @Herring_NBA
Lol, Embiid. Wow. Insane. – 10:46 PM

Chris Vernon @ChrisVernonShow
Noooooo way. Embiid really did that. – 10:46 PM

Tony East @TEastNBA
Joel Embiid, everyone. Filthy stuff. – 10:46 PM

Malika Andrews @malika_andrews
JOEL. EMBIID. – 10:46 PM

Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
JOEL EMBIID FOR THE WIN – 10:46 PM

Haralabos Voulgaris @haralabob
Embiid is a monster. – 10:46 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Embiid drills a 3. They’ll review it to make sure he beat the clock. – 10:46 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
OMFG Embiid – 10:46 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Holy shit, Joel Embiid #Sixers – 10:45 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Joel Embiid, man. – 10:45 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
And then Joel Embiid makes the dagger. Wow. – 10:45 PM

Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
GREAT job by Achiuwa knowing the situation and timing it as Embiid was killing time – 10:45 PM

Alan Hahn @alanhahn
So Joel Embiid turns into a wing in crunch time? – 10:44 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
These last few possessions is where you miss James Harden – 10:44 PM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
How did Embiid just do that? – 10:39 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Embiid was camped out in the paint for a hot second there. – 10:36 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
I get Joel Embiid is that guy, but why not have him get in the post off at some point?
OR.
Let Tyrese Maxey go to work 1-4 or off Embiid screen and crash the boards.
Going OT.
James Harden has fouled out.
#76ers #Raptors. – 10:35 PM

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
Joel Embiid now up to 7 3PT-FGA
He had a total of 4 in G1/2 – 10:34 PM

John Schuhmann @johnschuhmann
Seems like you should *try* to get Embiid a catch closer to the basket than that, but I feel like the Sixers have tried that & failed some times this season. – 10:34 PM

Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
Wow Embiid settling for a 27-foot step back for the game with a bunch of shorter guys defending him??? What kind of play is that? Who’s the 76ers coach? (Looking.) Oh yeah!!!!! – 10:33 PM

Ryan Wolstat @WolstatSun
Embiid tried to be Kawhi I respect it. – 10:33 PM

Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
Embiid may be the league’s leading scorer, but a step-back 3-pointer by a 7-footer to win the game doesn’t seem like the best shot available. – 10:33 PM

Alan Hahn @alanhahn
Joel Embiid step back three for the win is…..I guess….a choice. – 10:33 PM

Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
You’re Joel Embiid and you take THAT shot in THAT moment?! – 10:33 PM

Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
I also don’t love that shot from Embiid, but Toronto did a good job pushing him way out beyond the arc on the catch. – 10:32 PM

Jason Dumas @JDumasReports
Don’t like that shot from Embiid. Tobias also has to make that layup. – 10:32 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Joel Embiid gets up a potential game-winning 3-pointer, but misses it short. Tobias Harris gave an incredible effort to get the offensive rebound, but his putback, after wrestling it away from multiple guys, was just short, too.
To overtime we go here in Toronto. – 10:32 PM

Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
James Harden’s first foul-out of the season. – 10:28 PM

Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Harden fouling out by an offensive player hooking his arm is poetic – 10:28 PM

Jason Dumas @JDumasReports
That’s nasty karma for Harden because that 100% was not a foul lol – 10:28 PM

Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
Harden fouls precious. 26.6 sec left. Game tied at 95. Harden’s 6th foul
Rivers challenges
Unsuccessful.
Two huge fts for P.A. coming
Harden’s night is done – 10:28 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Unsuccessful challenge. Harden foul out stands. – 10:27 PM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Philly gotta give Harden 200 ems this summer….wow – 10:27 PM

Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Embiid 100% would’ve blocked whatever attempt was about to happen there. – 10:27 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Tough James Harden sequence there, but Doc Rivers is challenging the call #Sixers – 10:26 PM

Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Harden fouls out with 26.6 seconds left in a tie game; Sixers will ask for a review and I have no idea if it’ll work or not – 10:26 PM

Micah Adams @MicahAdams13
James Harden is the least likable star in NBA history.
A style of play that’s simply gross. – 10:26 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Precious draws the 6th foul on Harden, Doc asks for the review. – 10:26 PM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
James Harden has fouled out, but Doc Rivers is challenging the call. – 10:26 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
James Harden just fouled out with 26.6 to go on a drive by Precious Achiuwa under the basket. Doc Rivers is challenging the call. – 10:26 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Doc Rivers challenging James Harden’s sixth foul. Not gonna be a higher leverage moment than this. – 10:26 PM

J. Michael Falgoust @ThisIsJMichael
What a low man rotation from Anunoby. Harden has a layup but called a goaltend. Upheld on review #SixersRaptors pic.twitter.com/yryONXZ77D – 10:25 PM

Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
Sean Marks did the best he could with the hand he was dealt.
I’m just saying…
The way this thing was framed was Harden flaked on his team again and chose Morey over KD & Kyrie.
When in actuality, he left a flakey point guard and KD chose that flakey point guard over Harden. – 10:25 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Massive goaltending review here on this Harden drive. Referees called it so they could review it, but it was *very* close. I thought OG was there just early, but we’ll see. – 10:22 PM

Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
Game still tied.
Now 90-90 w/ 3:06 to go.
Credit PHI…they’ve answered every big shot by T.O. …an Embiid moon-shot 3pt from the far side…& a danny green 3pt moments ago…on the heels of a Trent 3pt that lit up the crowd.
Sixers have yet to lead tonight.
Tense/fun times! – 10:19 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
90-90. 3:06 left. Massive defensive blunder as Raps couldn’t get OG on to Embiid on switch, leading to a wide open Green 3. – 10:15 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Siakam’s gotta make Embiid move. – 10:13 PM

Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Gtfoh with that Embiid shot – 10:13 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Toronto is now in the penalty for the rest of the game. James Harden remains on the bench with five fouls with Toronto up 2 with 6:20 to go. – 10:11 PM

Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
Shoutout to the “real winners of the James Harden trade” AKA the team that didn’t get James Harden. – 10:08 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby have four fouls for Toronto, and James Harden has five for Philadelphia.
WIth Toronto up 82-80 with 6:59 left, foul trouble on both sides will be a looming issue to watch down the stretch. – 10:08 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Very short Joel Embiid rest stint here, and Toronto again won it by a small margin (this time, 3).
Philly only being -5 with Joel off the court is not quite the advantage of the first two games, but still far better than it typically has been. – 10:04 PM

Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Raptors were +3 in those Embiid-less minutes. +5 with Embiid on the bench tonight. He’s back in to close. – 10:03 PM

Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
9:13 to go…Harden picks up his 5th foul. He checks out. Embiid back in with the Raps up 4 – 10:03 PM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Harden picks up his fifth foul with 9:13 goes to the bench. .. Crowd is chanting “F— Embiid!” – 10:03 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
5th foul for Harden with 9:13 left, Embiid quickly goes to the scorer’s table. Danger zone here – 10:03 PM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Five fouls now on Harden. Green and Embiid coming back in. – 10:02 PM

Doug Smith @SmithRaps
That’s five PFs on Harden with 9:13 left; big – 10:02 PM

Aaron Rose @AaronBenRose
Joel Embiid is +1 tonight – 10:01 PM

Vivek Jacob @vivekmjacob
HERE FOR EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF MALACHI VS HARDEN – 10:00 PM

Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
The @Philadelphia 76ers lineup to start Q4:
Maxey / Harden / Harris / Niang / Reed aka Paul – 9:57 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Joel Embiid created 21 third quarter points… the Toronto Raptors scored 19 third quarter points as a team. – 9:56 PM

Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
Embiid was not good in the 1st half but he was outstanding in q3. 18 pts in the qrt. Philly down one going to the 4th.
Embiid played the entire 3rd. Will that impact him in the 4th…?
Biggest 12 min of the season coming for Toronto – 9:56 PM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
This is, somehow, a 75-74 Raptors lead heading to the fourth. Sixers outscored the Raptors 28-19, and Embiid Embiid nearly outscored Toronto by himself with 18 points. Harden with 16-6-8. Start of the fourth is going to be crucial with Embiid on the bench. – 9:56 PM

Noah Levick @NoahLevick
Two big scoring quarters for Joel Embiid so far this series — 19 points in the first quarter of Game 1, 18 points in the third quarter tonight.
Sixers down just a point heading into the fourth after trailing by as many as 17. – 9:56 PM

Derek Bodner @DerekBodnerNBA
Sixers were down 10 after 1, down 10 at the break, and are now down just 1 heading into the 4th.
Embiid scored 18 in the quarter to get Sixers back in the game.
Sixers are shooting 55.3% from field and 10-22 from 3, but 18 turnovers is holding them back. Raps have 15 more FGA – 9:55 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Joel Embiid in the first half: 5 points on 2-for-5 shooting 4 turnovers.
Embiid in the third: 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting, 1 turnover.
Dominant performance by the big fella. As a result, Toronto’s lead is down to 75-74 after 3.
Huge start to the 4th for both teams w/ him out – 9:55 PM

Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
The @Philadelphia 76ers close the gap, and trail by one, 75-74, at the end of Q3.
The Sixers outscored the Raptors, 28-19, in Q3.
Embiid: 23 PTS / 8 REB
Harden: 16 PTS / 6 REB / 8 AST
12 minutes to go. – 9:54 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
One-point Raptors lead heading into the fourth. Embiid-less minutes to open the fourth might decide the game. Expect to see a lot of Harden switch-hunting. – 9:54 PM

Matthew Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
Imagine stepping up to take a charge on a hard-rolling Embiid. Couldn’t be me. Absolutely not. – 9:54 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Joel Embiid had 18 points in the 3Q and Philadelphia, once down 17, is only down 1 heading into the 4th #Sixers – 9:54 PM

Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Well, here we go
Embiid has 18 in the third quarter, Raptors up 75-74 going into the fourth
Not saying the season is on the line for Toronto but not saying it isn’t – 9:53 PM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Embiid has 18 of the Sixers’ 24 third-quarter points. They trail 75-74 – 9:53 PM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Embiid rip-thru alert. – 9:51 PM

Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Still a long way to go in both series but right now it looks like playoff wins for 2022:
Harden/Embiid – 2 (at home)
KD/Kyrie – 0 (on road) pic.twitter.com/7V7Atkb43z – 9:44 PM

The Vertical @YahooSportsNBA
Embiid bringing the BOOM 🔨
pic.twitter.com/naaeAWe89G – 9:43 PM

Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
Raps went zone to counter the Embiid-Harden PNR, push the lead back up 5.
Sixers have handled that well the first two games, but those were two straight bad possessions. Good timeout by Rivers. – 9:43 PM

Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Embiid’s fifth turnover of the game leads to a Trent FB bucket and Raptors are up 5 but teetering
3:29 left in the third – 9:41 PM

Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Embiid in the first half: 5 points, 2-5 FG, 4 turnovers.
Embiid in the first 7 minutes of the second half: 12 points, 5-7 FG, 0 turnovers. – 9:39 PM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Embiid accounts for 70.6% of the team’s points in the third quarter. – 9:39 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Joel Embiid had 5 points at halftime. He’s up to 17 now, and is dragging the 76ers back into this game. Toronto’s lead is now all the way down to 1. – 9:39 PM

Jon Johnson @jonjohnsonwip
Embiid has had enough. Arena sure sounds quiet. – 9:38 PM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Embiid has 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting this quarter. – 9:38 PM

Vivek Jacob @vivekmjacob
embiid dominating this third quarter so far – 9:38 PM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Embiid is officially awake. That dunk, tho. – 9:37 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Joel Embiid just absolutely detonated on Pascal Siakam. Holy moly. What a ridiculous dunk. – 9:36 PM

Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
Embiid starting to get it going a bit here in q3. Looking for his offense more. Harden his best offensive game thus far. Raptors still lead by 5 but the vibe feels like Philly is coming. Time to punch back for T.O.
6:21
62-57 – 9:35 PM

Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Embiid (7) and Harden (4) have scored the Sixers’ first 11 points of the second half, and the Raptors lead (once 17) is down to 5 midway through the quarter. – 9:35 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
James Harden and Joel Embiid are beginning to get into a little groove. Philadelphia, once down 17, is within 5 with 6:21 to go 3Q. #Sixers – 9:34 PM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Gary Trent Jr. has been a difference-maker on the offensive end for Toronto (17 points on 6-of-11 FG), but James Harden is huuuunting that matchup even more than he did in Games 1 and 2. Sixers are within 5 again. Got there a couple minutes ago before Raps pushed it back out. – 9:34 PM

Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Raptors lead down to 5, Embiid’s getting going a little bit – 9:32 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
They just took a 3 off the board for Philly here in Toronto.
Halftime: Raptors 56, 76ers 46.
Sixers have committed 15 turnovers, leading to 21 Raptors points, but are in the game thanks to shooting 55 percent overall and 8-16 from 3.
Joel Embiid has 5 pts, 4 rebs, 4 TOs. – 9:17 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Harden deserves a lot of credit for steadying the Sixers there. He’s had turnover issues like the rest of them, but he was making it happen in isos. – 9:14 PM

Noah Levick @NoahLevick
Sixers down 21-9 in points off turnovers, 11-2 in fast-break points at the half.
Adjustments forced by Matisse Thybulle’s ineligibility — among them an eight-man rotation, Shake Milton subbing in for James Harden mid-first — generally ineffective. – 9:13 PM

Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Led by a horrendous first half from Joel Embiid, the Sixers played horribly for 21 of 24 minutes in the first half and trail by only 10. – 9:11 PM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Raptors lead 56-46 at the half. Embiid held to 5 points on 2-5 shooting. – 9:10 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Philly should feel lucky they’re only down 10 at the half. Joel Embiid has 5 points and 4 turnovers. #Sixers – 9:10 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Same story as after 1st quarter — only being down 10 despite playing that poorly is a victory. Winnable game in spite of disastrous execution.
Gotta see more Harden/Embiid P&R in the second half. – 9:10 PM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Don’t usually see Danny Green that fired up. His technical helped the Raptors push their lead back up to 56-46 at the break. Still, the Sixers are within striking distance despite only getting 5 points from Embiid and committing 15 turnovers for 21 points. – 9:10 PM

Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
13.5 sec left …Danny Green called for the foul …argues …gets T’d up….then gets heated, big time, and needs to be calmed down by Embiid and Harden.
Raps go into half leading 56-46. – 9:10 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Danny Green is as clearly upset with the officiating on that play and he was called for a tech. James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid all had to go over there and calm him down. I’ve never seen Green that animated before. #Sixers – 9:09 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Danny Green just got a technical foul and needed *both* James Harden and Joel Embiid to grab him multiple times to try to calm him down. I’ve covered Danny for a lot of years, and not sure I’ve ever seen him that mad about anything. – 9:09 PM

Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Harden realizing that he has the switch and exerting pressure to bring the Sixers back into this one. – 9:06 PM

Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
Toronto’s 17 point lead is down to 8. Philly, other than Embiid, starting to make shots…find gaps in the Raptors D. Raps still playing ok but intensity needs to be dialed up again. Good timeout by nick Nurse.
3:41 til half. 45-37.
Crowd could dial it up a bit more too TBH🤷‍♂️ – 9:03 PM

Doug Smith @SmithRaps
I have great respect for Joel Embiid’s game but for a guy listed at 7-feet, 280 pounds, he sure gets knocked down or off balance easily an awful lot – 9:02 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Lead down to 8 after a Harden step back. A rather large final 3:41 coming to this half. – 9:01 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Fred VanVleet called for a foul on Joel Embiid in the corner and then VanVleet picks up the tech a thing the call. The fans here are not happy about it. #Sixers – 9:00 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
VanVleet gets called for a foul as Embiid falls out of bounds, and VanVleet T’d up. – 9:00 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Ultimately Toronto won the non-Embiid minutes by two points. Better, but not the kind of advantage Toronto would like to have in those minutes. – 8:59 PM

Vivek Jacob @vivekmjacob
precious gotta just stay in the corner for the three ball look, no need to cut and go up against embiid – 8:59 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Sixers hunting out Young for a Harden matchup, and Raps seem willing to oblige. – 8:58 PM

Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Raptors won the (nearly) 6 Embiid rest minutes 14-12. They had scored 9 of the first 11 points of the quarter before Philly went on a run. Not great, but a step in the right direction. Raps were -12 in 22 Embiid-less minutes in Games 1 and 2. – 8:56 PM

Aaron Rose @AaronBenRose
Could have used a little more than just +2 in those Embiid-less minutes, but it’s progress – 8:56 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
After all that, Raps go just +2 in non-Embiid minutes. Harden made some things happen, despite Philly’s five turnovers in the stretch. – 8:56 PM

Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Raptors getting too slow getting out to shooters after shading a second guy at Harden – 8:55 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
A 9-2 Raptors run to start the second, the non-Embiid minutes you know and love. – 8:47 PM

Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Raptors up 17 and killing the non-Embiid minutes – 8:47 PM

Jon Johnson @jonjohnsonwip
Harden deferring an open three in the second quarter is not a good look. – 8:47 PM

Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
Key sequence here to start q2. Flynn on Harden. Fred getting rest. Not to pick on the dude…but I didn’t think Flynn was great in game 2. Redemption time 💪
And as I type this …two Malachi assists and holding up just fine thus far versus the Beard – 8:46 PM

Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Malachi Flynn for VanVleet and immediately guards Harden into an offensive foul – 8:44 PM

Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
Great block at the end, but that was a nightmare quarter from Embiid. Four turnovers in 12 minutes is just not gonna cut it. Very interested to see how he responds. – 8:43 PM

Michael Grange @michaelgrange
The Sixers have eight turnovers in the first quarter, four by Embiid, most of them thanks to Toronto digging, coming from the weakside and being annoying. They’re back! They lead 29-19 after 1. – 8:42 PM

Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Embiid had more turnovers than points in that first quarter. Toronto made 5 more shots and committed 5 fewer turnovers.
Raptors only lead by 10 after the first quarter. Not as bad as it could’ve been. – 8:42 PM

Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Most Raptorsy quarter of the series so far. 9-0 edge in fast-break points. 9 points off 12 Philly turnovers. Held Embiid to 3 points on 1-4 FG and 4 turnovers. 29-19 Raps lead. Now let’s see if they can finally take advantage of some Embiid-less minutes. – 8:42 PM

Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
Embiid 1 for 4 (3 pts) in q1. Raptors lead 29-19 heading to q2.
Philly had 9 turnovers in the 1st. – 8:42 PM

Derek Bodner @DerekBodnerNBA
Honestly, being down just 10 feels like the Sixers got off a bit easy. Embiid’s completely out of rhythm, Toronto’s winning the turnover and rebounding battles, Gary Trent Jr is having an impact for the first time this series and the Sixers aren’t getting to the line. – 8:42 PM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
That was a BOSS block by Embiid at the end of the quarter. #Raptors lead 29-19. Embiid is shooting 1-4. He has three points, four rebounds, four turnovers and one block. – 8:41 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Just an entire quarter filled with self-inflicted wounds for the Sixers. Embiid has to be a lot better reading the floor and feeling pressure.
Good news is Toronto didn’t punish them harder, because I think that could have gone much worse – 8:41 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
End of 1 in Toronto with the Raptors up 29-19. Tough start for Joel Embiid who has 3 points on 1/4 shooting and he has 4 turnovers. #Sixers – 8:40 PM

David Thorpe @coachthorpe
Lots of talk about Harden’s lack of burst. I see some good bursts off the dribble. Have since game one. But he has no lift late. So he can create some driving angles out on the perimeter but struggles to finish at the rim. Maybe that will change going forward. – 8:39 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Now an “Embiid sucks!” chant has broken out #Sixers – 8:38 PM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Sixers trail 26-16 and the Raptors fans are chanting “Embiid sucks!” – 8:38 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Philadelphia now up to eight first quarter turnovers – and Joel Embiid has four of them. – 8:37 PM

Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
Five turnovers, Raps dominating the glass, Embiid not making sharp reads.
Super early (and they have created some good shots), but this first quarter has felt like the regular-season games for the Sixers. – 8:33 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
The hate that this city has for Joel Embiid is wild. A “fuck Embiid!” chant and a lot of boos whenever he touches the ball. #Sixers – 8:31 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
A loud “Fuck Embiid!” chant from the Raps crowd just now – 8:26 PM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Shake Milton is an early sub for the Sixers, replacing Harden at the 5:44 mark. Usually he and Niang come in together. – 8:24 PM

Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
Shake Milton is the @Philadelphia 76ers‘ first sub in Game 3, replacing James Harden. – 8:24 PM

Eric Smith @Eric__Smith
5:17 into the game …Embiid is scoreless and the Raptors lead 10-7 – 8:21 PM

Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Raptors by 3 at first timeout, Embiid scoreless with two turnovers and a bad pass out of a double team
They’re speeding him up – 8:19 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Some sloppy Sixers turnovers early, but damage has been minimal. Harden continues to have a lot of success when he gets the FVV or Trent matchup on the perimeter – 8:17 PM

Tas Melas @TasMelas
How have the Raptors won two straight opening tips against Embiid? – 8:16 PM

Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Harden has gotten one foot in the paint every time he’s tried to get downhill thus far. Good sign for his burst tonight. – 8:16 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Harden doesn’t get a shooting foul on one of his typical arm lock-ups. Interesting. – 8:15 PM

Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Building is nearly full 3 minutes in, but a so-so atmosphere early. Embiid is getting booed every time he touches the ball, though. – 8:14 PM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
You knew this would happen. The Raptors fans are booing Embiid whenever he touches the ball. #Raptors up 6-0. – 8:12 PM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Boos for Embiid when he catches the ball. I can’t imagine why! – 8:11 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Khem Birch steps into the starting role for Precious Achiuwa, along with Anunoby, Siakam, Trent and VanVleet.
Sixers sticking with Harden, Maxey, Green, Harris and Embiid. – 7:32 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Khem Birch will start tonight for Toronto. Nick Nurse opts to go with some size against Joel Embiid. – 7:16 PM

Krishna Narsu @knarsu3
One of the interesting aspects of the Sixers offense is that each of their players requires a different type of defender. With Harden, you need someone bulkier who won’t foul vs. Maxey where you need someone quick. Obviously Joel requires a completely different type of defender. – 2:54 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
James Harden isn’t putting up huge scoring numbers, but he’s making a big impact just with his passing and his high IQ #Sixers sixerswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/20/jam… via @SixersWire – 2:53 PM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
When the Sixers were in Toronto in late December, Joel Embiid playfully told Tyrese Maxey, “You were trash today.” The very next game, Maxey went wild from three-point range.
What that says about Embiid’s evolution as a leader 👇🏼
inquirer.com/sixers/joel-em… – 2:02 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
The Sixers look to go up 3-0 tonight in Toronto.
Despite the early success, @Kendrick Perkins tells @TermineRadio & @Eddie Johnson he needs to see a lot more in the post-season before giving James Harden a long-term deal #PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/8YtM94ri2t – 2:00 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
From shootaround in Toronto — the impact James Harden is having even without having his scoring touch, the Sixers dealing without Thybulle, and a referee assignment that has me anticipating potential complaints and/or techs tonight phillyvoice.com/sixers-vs-rapt… – 1:34 PM

Michael Gallagher @MikeSGallagher
Talking defensive coverages in Nets vs. Celtics, Maxey’s ridiculous start to the playoffs, Embiid post-ups, offensive struggles in Game 1 of the Bulls-Bucks series, and more in today’s NBA 3 Ball.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/est… – 12:19 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Tyrese Maxey said he was watching Sixers-Raptors in 2019 as a senior in high school. Says he remembered watching Kawhi Leonard’s shot and the aftermath of it, and that he saw how much winning meant to Joel Embiid. – 12:19 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Some James Harden action this morning #Sixers pic.twitter.com/Rl1JPcaGrw – 12:19 PM

Michael Grange @michaelgrange
“[we] can try to shift and change our focus a little bit to be more lean in one way maybe to the other way” — Fred VanVleet on a potential shift in approach to guarding James Harden. – 10:59 AM

Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Hear people make the case that this Sixers team has a limited ceiling w/ Tyrese Maxey as 2nd leading scorer (i.e., Harden has to be scoring more than Maxey).
My question — why is there a question about Maxey being the 2nd guy when he’s been doing it all season? – 10:20 AM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Joel Embiid has a superstar’s gravity, and the Raptors are getting a reminder of how much more difficult it is to win when you’re working without that: theathletic.com/3259619/2022/0… – 9:46 AM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
The Sixers have dominated many of the statistical categories in their first-round series against the Raptors.
One of the most important? They’ve won the non-Embiid minutes in the second quarter, thanks to a wrinkle with James Harden and Tyrese Maxey.
inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-… – 9:35 AM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Give Em To Me! I want your predictions for Game 3 of the #Sixers vs. #Torontoraptors Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. I want the winning team, final score and points for Embiid, Maxey, Siakam and VanVleet. #PhilaUnite #WeTheNorth #NBAPlayoffs #nba pic.twitter.com/yzmen8rs1Q – 8:06 AM

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Gerald Bourguet: Devin Booker misses out on being an MVP finalist behind Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo. He could still be in the top-5, but he’s not one of the 3 finalists -via Twitter @GeraldBourguet / April 17, 2022

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