PHILADELPHIA — Two games into this second-round series, the Miami Heat looked like they were going to cruise to a series win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The injury to Joel Embiid left the big fella’s status up in the air and it looked like the Sixers had no answer for the Heat without him.
However, fighting through the concussion protocol, an orbital fracture, and a torn ligament in his right thumb, Embiid battled back to get on the floor and helped Philadelphia knock off the Heat 99-79 in Game 3 and get back in the series.
Embiid only had 18 points on 5-for-12 shooting, but his presence out on the floor was a big change for Miami in this series. The Heat weren’t just walking in for layups like they were in the first two games and that was a big change for them as they shot only 35.1% on the night and 7-for-30 from deep.