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Joel Embiid had a monster impact on Tuesday's Christmas Day game against the Boston Celtics, one the Philadelphia 76ers lost in overtime after running out of answers for an inspired Kyrie Irving, who took his team on his back.
The Sixers big man's stat line was nothing to scoff at, as his 34 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks played a large part in this holiday showdown, yet it proved not enough to hand Philly a much-needed win over their Eastern Conference rivals.
Article Continues Below“I felt like I could have done more,” said Embiid after the game, according to David Murphy of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “I didn’t get the ball. The ball didn’t find me in the fourth quarter and overtime, so, in those situations, I’ve got to show up, but I also have to be put in the right situations to be able to help this team.
“I felt like I wasn’t in the right situation. We lost. I put this heavily on me because I know I could have done more, and the more I was playing, all day they couldn’t guard me, and they were playing a lot of 1-on-1, double-teaming on the first dribbles, but I have to find a way to adjust through that and just be myself.”
The big man put up his only two points in overtime via the free-throw line, being the only starter who failed to attempt a shot, as Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, JJ Redick and Wilson Chandler all did through the extra period.
Embiid recorded 10 field goals made and scored over 50 percent of his shots for the third straight game, also posting double-digit rebounds for the fourth straight game while connecting on all 12 of his free-throw attempts — making it the first time this season he went perfect from the foul line when attempting more than six free throws.
This loss hurts for Embiid, considering he had a good roll going and the Sixers could have faced a different outcome if they were able to involve their center down the stretch.
