Embiid Slam Dunks MVP Case
04/05/2023
By: Jeff Yoder
Joel Embiid (52 Points) Takes Charge as 76ers Top Celtics in East Showdown (103-101)
A showdown between two of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference garnered the eyeballs on Tuesday in the NBA, and Joel Embiid put on a show. The MVP frontrunner put up a 52-13-6 night on 20-for-25 shooting last night in Philadelphia’s meeting with Boston. Neither team led by double digits in the game and a flurry of lead changes ensued down the stretch. The Celtics trailed by seven inside of ten seconds and nearly pulled off a miracle. They hit a layup, a 3 and got a shot at the game-tying bucket — three possessions in less than ten seconds — but the 76ers escaped (103-101). It was Embiid’s third 50-point game of the season, and he’s now averaging 33 points, 10.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the year.
Updated NBA MVP Odds
Joel Embiid (PHI): -470
Nikola Jokic (DEN): +650
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): +750
Watch: Embiid Posts 52-Point Double-Double in 76ers’ Win
Other NBA Highlights
LeBron Hits OT Winner: LeBron James put up 37 points last night in a vintage performance to boost the Lakers past the Jazz (135-133, OT). It was a driving layup by LBJ that provided the go-ahead bucket with 27 seconds left in OT.
Spida Goes for 43: Donovan Mitchell went on another shooting clinic for the Cavs last night. Cleveland topped Orlando (117-113), and Mitchell’s 43 points gives him 13 40-point games for the season. Only Damian Lillard (15) and Luka Doncic (14) have more.
Another Ja Jam: Ja Morant seems back to his usual jaw-dropping antics since returning to the Grizzlies. He went for 22 points in Memphis’s win last night against the Blazers (119-109), including a two-for-one poster dunk on Drew Eubanks and Shaedon Sharpe.
Full NBA Scoreboard
Raptors def. Hornets (120-104)
Timberwolves def. Nets (107-102)
Rockets def. Nuggets (124-103)
Warriors def. Thunder (136-125)
Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images