Joel Embiid was in the crosshairs of social media scrutiny for his Christmas Day pre-game fumble. In a season where he has already battled various injuries, Embiid’s warmup routine turned into a moment of panic for fans. However, he courageously bounced back and led the Philadelphia 76ers to a well-fought victory against the Boston Celtics.
The injury scare happened when he unexpectedly lost his balance while attempting a turnaround 3-pointer. The fall was alarming as Embiid tumbled into the security rope, seemingly grabbing his ankle in pain. While most of the fans were hyping up their favorite team in joy, they elicited gasps watching the Sixers big man fall. For a moment, it seemed like the star center might once again be on the sidelines, leaving Sixers fans fearing the worst ahead of a critical matchup. But he bounced back.
“I stepped on a security guard and just twisted it. Just a little sore, but it’s Christmas. Gotta play on Christmas,” Embiid said while addressing his fumble.
Joel Embiid on what happened when he fell pregame: "I stepped on a security guard and just twisted it.
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) December 26, 2024
Just a little sore, but it’s Christmas. Gotta play on Christmas." #Sixers
Despite the injury scare, Embiid quickly recovered and continued his warm-up, ultimately suiting up for the highly anticipated game. However, it almost ruined the Sixers’ Christmas spirit as he was ejected in the previous game against the San Antonio Spurs. Despite the incident, Embiid’s performance has been under scrutiny this season, as he has yet to reach the peak levels fans have come to expect from the reigning MVP candidate.
Joel Embiid Has To Bounce Back
The 76ers pulled off the exciting 118-114 victory against the Celtics, all thanks to Embiid and Tyrese Maxey’s incredible efforts. Despite dealing with a sinus fracture that forced him to wear a protective mask, Embiid led the charge for Philadelphia with 27 points. His contribution included nine rebounds and four assists in just 30 minutes of play.
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Although his production has been hindered compared to last season’s stats, Joel had an average of 34.7 points and 11 rebounds per game during the previous season. Currently, the average stands at 20.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. And that has a lot to do with the 76ers struggling with his health and consistency.
Joel Embiid tonight:
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 26, 2024
27 PTS – 9 REB – 53% FG
Tyrese Maxey tonight:
33 PTS – 4 REB – 12 AST
(Via @realapp_ ) pic.twitter.com/JMeeH1TAIs
The team is currently in a better state, with a 7-3 record in their last ten games, given their recent turnaround. Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George are forming a promising core.
The 76ers’ current standing of 10-17 has hopes to build momentum and contend for the playoffs as they navigate the rest of the season.
Despite a strong performance from Boston’s Jayson Tatum, who scored 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, the absence of Kristaps Porzingis due to an ankle injury left the Celtics vulnerable. The 76ers built a solid 16-point lead in the third but had to fend off a late rally from Boston, who closed the gap to just two points in the final minute.
