Get little resistance and feel safe to use your full range of offensive skills, Joel Embiid He unleashed an impressive performance on Saturday night as he hit a playoff career high of 36 points in just 28 minutes to take the lead Philadelphia 76ers to a 132-103 victory In the Washington Wizards.
He made 14 of 18 shots with a stream of power moves, fadeaway jumpers, and 3 pointers as the 76ers took their first 3-0 lead in a postseason streak since 1985.
The Wizards, having matchup issues with the bigger and deeper 76s everywhere, didn’t double Embiid as aggressively as they did in Games 1 and 2 while trying to get attention elsewhere. Embiid broke strategy and scored 25 points in the first half.
He averages 30.6 on a 67% relentless shoot, including 55% on 3-pointers after making 3-of-4 in Game 3.
“It was one on one and I wanted to use it. I think it’s up to you to make that decision,” Embiid said. “It’s hard to stop me whether you send a doubles team or not.”
His dominance and reliance on the wizards’ attempts to deal with him were evident in two properties at the end of the second quarter.
In the open space on the 3-point line, Embiid faked the pump and passed easily Daniel Gafford, his defender at stake. When Embiid hit the street the defender was the backline, Rui Hachimura, on bail and out of the way. Embiid got up for a power dunk but missed, maybe he was surprised it was that easy.
Two possessions later, when he saw no reason not to, he tried again. Gafford was lost on a counterfeit Embiid pump. Hachimura got out as Embiid was rolling down the alley, and this time the MVP finalist got the timing right and polished off a highlight jam before putting his ear to the opposing crowd.
“I missed the dunk and [the fans] Let me hear about it, “said Embiid.” I had another opportunity and wanted to hear more boos. It gets me going; I like that. I just love playing on the street. “
It wasn’t just Gafford and Hachimura; Embiid hit about half the list of wizards that night.
Washington ranked 13th among the playoff teams on defense and didn’t show much strength, which allowed the 76ers to get a stream of clean 3-pointers in transition and half-field sets.
Ben Simmons, who had 14 points and nine assists, repeatedly set up teammates for 3-pointers, namely Embiid and Danny Greenwho made five of them. The 76s made 17 of 33 3-pointers and shot 59% overall.
Guarding magicians Russell WestbrookPlaying through a sprained right ankle, he had his best offensive game of the series with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists when he took Jason Kidd to third place ever with his eleventh place in the playoff triple-double. Bradley Beal got 25 points but only made 1 of 8 3-pointers.
“Joel was special tonight, special,” said 76 coach Doc Rivers. “We had one of those nights when everything fell on us.”
