BOSTON — Joel Embiid, the standout player for the Philadelphia 76ers, wasn’t going to let a mishap during warmups deter him from facing off against the Boston Celtics in a highly anticipated NBA matchup. Embiid stumbled over a barrier designed to keep fans away from players and fell onto the court while warming up, twisting his right ankle in the process. Despite the setback, he managed to play 31 minutes and contributed significantly to the Sixers’ 118-114 victory over the reigning NBA champions, scoring 27 points and securing nine rebounds.
“It was a little sore, but it was Christmas,” Embiid remarked after the game, fresh from soaking his ankles in icy water in the Philadelphia locker room. “I’ve got to play on Christmas.”
About 45 minutes before the game began, while shooting near the sideline, Embiid backed into the security barrier and fell to the floor, where he grabbed his ankle and lay still for a moment. Afterward, he left the court to head to the locker room but returned later for his team’s shooting session just before the opening tip-off. Eventually, he joined his teammates and warmed up normally before going head-to-head with Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis for the tip-off.
In the first half, Embiid tallied 18 points and six rebounds, finishing the game impressively with a 4-of-5 performance from beyond the arc. He was crucial in the final moments, making four free throws to secure the win, despite limping after a drive to the basket with just over two minutes remaining, when the Sixers were ahead by three points. “It was the other (ankle),” he said with a shrug. “My luck.”
Embiid, a two-time NBA scoring champion, has been averaging 21.3 points and seven rebounds per game this season, significantly below his career norms. His struggles have been attributed to various injuries, including issues with his left knee, a sinus fracture, and a three-game suspension due to a conflict with a reporter.
“You can’t feel bad about yourself,” Embiid stated. “Life is life; it happens. You do whatever is necessary to get better and get back on the floor. But it is tough. What can you do? Some of them are unfortunate so you’ve just got to deal with it and take it in and get better.”
Wearing a protective mask, Embiid played in only his third game since suffering the sinus fracture. He had been ejected in the previous game against San Antonio after receiving a second technical foul for disputing a referee’s call in the second quarter.
