The numbers are certainly impressive, but they still don't do Joel Embiid's Game 3 performance justice – and not just because he only played 28 minutes in the Philadelphia 76ers' blowout win over the Toronto Raptors.

After Embiid dropped 33 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and five blocks on 18 shots Wednesday night, Sixers coach Brett Brown was asked what stood out most to him about the superstar big man's epic performance. His answer speaks to both Embiid's immense two-way value to Philadelphia, as well as the team's key to beating Toronto and advancing to the Conference Finals.

“For me it goes straight to the blocks,” Brown said of Embiid's play on NBA TV. “We can talk about a windmill dunk, we can talk about some finesse post moves and that, but I go to defense. That's what interests me the most to date with this series. When we talk about whatever we're gonna talk about, my mind goes straight there. He is our crown jewel defensively, and I suppose offensively too, but certainly defensively. His rim-protection and shot-blocking ability tonight stood out as much to me as anything in an incredible performance.”

Brown wasn't lying.

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Embiid's defensive rating in Game 3 was 85.2, and the Raptors shot a dismal 11-of-23 from the restricted area – not a coincidence. Marc Gasol scored just seven points, while only eight of Kawhi Leonard's efficient 33 points came in the paint. Even more encouraging? Embiid, his mobility so hampered by knee tendonitis recently, looked as mobile and explosive as ever.

Bottom line: If Joel Embiid is the game's best player on both ends of the floor, it will be very, very hard for the Sixers to lose, as he made abundantly clear on Thursday night.