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Embiid is also dealing with the after-effects of a knee injury that cut the regular season short.
CNN
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Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-114 loss in Game 3 against the New York Knicks, despite admitting after the game that he was undergoing treatment for a mild form of Bell's palsy. He achieved victory.
The current NBA MVP is playoff career high He had 50 points, eight rebounds and four assists in the important win, the 76ers' first appearance in this season opener series.
It was a historically efficient shooting night for Embiid. Embiid made 13-of-19 shots from the floor, 5-of-7 from deep throws and 19-of-21 from the free-throw line. According to the NBA, it was the first time in league playoff history that a player scored 50 points on fewer than 20 field goal attempts.
Embiid explained after the game that he began suffering from symptoms of Bell's palsy “a day or two before” the April 17 play-in tournament game between Philadelphia and the Miami Heat.
“I was suffering from severe migraines, so I thought it was nothing,” he told reporters. “The left side of my face, my mouth, my eyes are really bothering me. Yeah, it was tough.
“But I'm not giving up, so I have to keep fighting. But yeah, it's disappointing. That's what I think. But that's no excuse. I have to keep pushing. not.”
Bell's palsy is a disease in which facial muscles suddenly become weak. Half of the face may appear droopy, the smile may become lopsided, or the affected eye may have difficulty closing.
The condition is typically temporary, but Embiid said there is no timetable for recovery, adding, “It could be weeks or months.”
He also said his vision was affected and he was putting eye drops in his eyes to keep them from getting too dry, but he managed to talk about the situation with a smile.
“I have a beautiful face now. I don't like it when my mouth points in different directions,” said the Cameroon-born superstar.
Embiid was involved in the incident. moment of controversy After being taken to the floor while defending in the first quarter. He reached out his hand and grabbed the leg of opposing center Mitchell Robinson, who was injured during the play. He was seen leaving the arena wearing walking boots..
Embiid was whistled for a flagrant foul, and the New York guard claimed after the game that the incident was unintentional. Donte DiVincenzo declared That was “dirty” play.
Matt Slocum/AP
Embiid drove to the rim during the game.
The Sixers needed a big effort in Game 3 in front of their home fans, as the second-seeded Knicks won the first two games of this Eastern Conference series. With the Knicks coming out of halftime with a slim three-point advantage, Embiid took over in the crucial third quarter, scoring 18 points and sinking all four triples, allowing Philadelphia to outscore New York by 16 points in the quarter. exceeded.
Point guard Tyrese Maxey, who was named the NBA's Most Improved Player on Wednesday, added 25 points for the Sixers, and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 15 points. The Knicks were led by All-Star Jalen Brunson, who scored 39 points and scored 13 points. We support you. New York's Josh Hart also scored 20 points, but it wasn't enough to get them over the line as the visiting team went down, but they still held a 2-1 lead in the series.
Lakers risk sweep, Magic in win column
On Thursday night, the reigning champion Denver Nuggets took on the Los Angeles Lakers on the road, defeating LeBron James and his team 112-105, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
This matchup so far has been reminiscent of the 2023 Western Conference Finals, where Denver dominated the Lakers 4-0. LA has a seemingly insurmountable challenge, as no team in NBA history has gone 0-3 and won a playoff series.
Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with 29 points, and three other players scored 20 or more points. Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic each had double-digit rebounds, and the starters filled out the stat sheet. Their score of 20 points or more.
Anthony Davis had 33 points and 15 boards, while James and Austin Reeves had 26 points and 22 points, respectively, in the loss, but they can at least extend the series with a win in Game 4 on Saturday. you would expect.
Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
Jokic will face Davis in a duel between two star big men.
Returning to the East Division, the Orlando Magic won a one-sided Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, earning their first victory in the series. The Magic, led by 2022-23 Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, who had 31 points and 14 rebounds, defeated the Cavs 121-83.
Cleveland holds a 2-1 lead in the series but must overcome Thursday's disappointment in which its star backcourt duo of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell combined for just 18 points.
