Despite another strong performance from Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered a disappointing 125-112 loss to the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Friday. Embiid was visibly frustrated as the game slipped away, even directing his emotions toward his own teammates.
One of the key moments of the night came during a timeout after the third quarter when Embiid was visibly upset with teammate Kelly Oubre Jr. The incident occurred after Oubre made a sloppy effort to get back on defense during a fast break. It led to an easy scoring opportunity for the Pistons.
Embiid was unable to contain his frustration. As the team headed into a timeout, Embiid and Oubre exchanged heated words, barking at each other face-to-face. Though the exact exchange wasn’t heard, their body language made it clear that emotions were running high.
Joel Embiid & Kelly Oubre hug it out after a HEATED exchange 😅
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 8, 2025
Tough night for Philly in Detroit 😬 pic.twitter.com/U4C8M7Z2Vs
Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, and by the end of the game, the two players embraced. Embiid finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Oubre also contributed with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists.
Kirk Goldsberry Criticizes Joel Embiid’s Hefty Extension Amid Injury Struggles
Joel Embiid’s massive three-year, $192.9 million contract extension has sparked debate, especially given his limited availability this season. On The Bill Simmons podcast, NBA analyst Kirk Goldsberry recently reignited the discussion while addressing the Lakers’ addition of Luka Doncic.
“The defense is that Luka Doncic is the next Joel Embiid. He is a person whose body isn’t gonna hold up to these crazy pace and space games that happen 82 times a year plus playoffs. We think the lower body is gonna go or the back is gonna go and we’re gonna be on the hook for that Joel Embiid equivalent and we don’t wanna do it,” Goldsberry said.
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While Embiid remains one of the most dominant players when healthy, his long-term durability remains a question mark. He has only played 15 games for the Sixers so far this season. He has averaged 24.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game in those games.
