'What a moment': Joel Embiid stuns NBA world with dramatic shot
Joel Embiid has broken the hearts of Toronto Raptors fans to hand the Philadelphia 76ers a commanding playoff series lead in dramatic fashion during overtime.
Three years after the 76ers suffered a soul-crushing series defeat on a miraculous Kawhi Leonard buzzer beater, Embiid took one more step towards squaring the ledger on Thursday.
OUCH: Brooklyn Nets coach shoots down new claims about Ben Simmons
'UNACCEPTABLE': NBA player's wild act after being thrown out
The MVP candidate buried a late shot clock three-pointer with less that one second to play in overtime to defeat the Raptors 104-101.
The shot capped a 33 point, 14 rebound effort from Embiid to edge one game closer to a series sweep, with Philadelphia holding a 3-0 lead heading into game four this weekend.
NBA fans couldn't believe what they saw from Embiid, after the Sixers trailed for almost the entire game before managing to force overtime.
Embiid drilled his final shot after catching an inbounds pass on the wing with the score tied at 101 with 2.6 seconds left on the clock.
Naturally, Embiid couldn't help but bully Canadian rapper and Raptors superfan Drake a bit on his way off the court, too.
JOEL EMBIID CALLED GAME IN OT 🚨 @Sixers WIN pic.twitter.com/xHVJu0Ci3K
— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) April 21, 2022
haven’t stopped screaming for five minutes thank you Joel Embiid
— Liz Roscher (@lizroscher) April 21, 2022
That was a grownup superstar moment for Joel Embiid. Took Toronto’s best punch, bounced back from a tough first half and shut up the road crowd. Most impressive moment of his career.
— Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) April 21, 2022
a 7-foot-1 man hit a turnaround game-winning 3 pointer in a playoff game and not a single soul was surprised
Joel Embiid—and tbh basketball in general—is DIFFERENT— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) April 21, 2022
Joel Embiid is a center …. Let that sink in while you watch the highlight of his catch turn around and shoot 3 to win the game.
— The Mad King (@Kingkeraun) April 21, 2022
What a moment for Joel Embiid.
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) April 21, 2022
It is Joel Embiid’s world and we are all just living in it
— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) April 21, 2022
"I'm coming for the sweep too," Embiid quipped, determined to win his way to the conference finals after years of playoff heartache.
He may not have had a chance at a real game-winner had it not been for a persistent effort from Sixers head coach Doc Rivers.
Raptors hearts broken after wild Embiid buzzer beater
On the Sixers' first chance at a game-winner, a loose ball ended with Embiid stuck in the corner and throwing up a prayer and needing some help, which came in the form of Rivers running down the court to get the officials' attention.
For a second, the Toronto crowd thought its team had forced double overtime, but the Sixers instead had 2.6 seconds to inbound the ball and score, just enough for Embiid.
That ending is a gut punch for a Raptors team that seemed well on its way to getting some ground back in this series.
Toronto led by as many as 17 points in the second quarter and held the lead for almost the entire game.
The Raptors' chances seemed good entering overtime as well after Sixers star James Harden fouled out at the end of overtime, but Embiid and Tyrese Maxey made every Sixers bucket to cover his absence.
Harden finished with 19 points, 10 assists and six rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting.
Should the Sixers win Sunday, they will face the winner of the series between the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks. Miami currently leads the series 2-0.
With Yahoo Sports US
Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
