Oh. My. Goodness.
The Raptors looked like they were on the verge of taking Game 3 in their first-round playoff series with the 76ers. They were but one possession or two here or there away from finally getting on the board and perhaps making it an actual series.
But, as is often the case, Joel Embiid had other ideas: He hit a game-winning, fadeaway three with 2.6 seconds to go.
A play earlier, with Philadelphia holding onto a tenuous one-point lead in overtime, Embiid fouled Toronto’s OG Anunoby and gave him the opportunity to win the game. Fortunately for Embiid and the 76ers, Anunoby missed the second shot but still knotted the game at 101-101 with mere seconds left.
It is here where Embiid seemed to take his mistake personally. The 76ers took their last full-timeout so they could inbound the ball at half court on their final possession. They then trusted Danny Green with the ball in his hands.
The veteran fired a pictured-perfect pass right to Embiid, who spun around on one foot and nailed a fadeaway buzzer-beater to win 104-101.
🗣️ SIXERS WIN GAME THREE. pic.twitter.com/1IcPit6yh0
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 21, 2022
I mean, let’s not pretend. It doesn’t get any better than that in basketball.
Philadelphia now holds a 3-0 stranglehold over the Raptors. They have Embiid’s clutch brilliance to thank.
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