The Philadelphia 76ers had to go to battle on Thursday night with the rival Boston Celtics without superstar Joel Embiid who is scheduled to have surgery on Friday in New York in order to repair a torn ligament in his left hand. However, just because he was not there, does not mean he was left out.
The Sixers went on to beat the Celtics on Thursday 109-98 led by Josh Richardson who had 29 points and seven assists and Al Horford who had 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. After the win in the postgame locker room session, the Sixers had Embiid on FaceTime to make sure he was included.
“We just did our postgame bell-ringing ceremony and I look over one of the player’s shoulders and I see Elton (Brand) is holding Joel on FaceTime,” said a smiling Brett Brown. “So we were able from New York to include him which is always a good thing.”
That is a huge thing to have your superstar in Embiid to be able to be included even when he isn’t there and he’s going through a tough time in New York. That builds team chemistry and it keeps everybody involved.
“It was cool to be able to celebrate our win and then get to wave at him and say what’s up to him,” said Richardson. “We’re praying for a successful whatever he has to do.”
Richardson was sitting by Tobias Harris as a joint press conference and Harris leaned over and said “it’s surgery” with a laugh. Richardson then laughed and said “a successful surgery”.
Could it be? One big happy Sixers family? [lawrence-related id=23128,23112,23106]