Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid doesn't seem too surprised after he put up a dominant 41-point, 20-rebound game against the Indiana Pacers.

When it was revealed to him that it's the first 40-20 game of the 2021-22 NBA season, Embiid was definitely delighted. However, for him, it's simply a testament of the work he does every game and a culmination of his mentality to dominate every night.

“I’ve always said every single night I want to dominate. Dominating can show up in a lot of different ways whether it’s offensively or defensively, sometimes it’s in the numbers… So I guess it’s good,” the Sixers center shared, per team reporter Lauren Rosen.

Joel Embiid was sensational in the showdown. He was really efficient against the Pacers, going 14-for-17 from the field while also recording four assists, two steals and one block. He did it all for Sixers, which put them in a good position to fight for the third seed in their final regular season game.

Aside from his 40-20 performance, though, Embiid also made history as only the seventh player in NBA history to have at least 40 30-point games in a single season. He joined the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Bob McAdoo and David Robinson.

His latest display also strengthens his bid for both the MVP award and the scoring championship. While he is facing tough competition for the MVP honor, he has the scoring title almost locked in after two 40-point explosions in the Sixers' last three outings. He is now averaging 30.6 points per game, putting him well ahead of Giannis Antetokounmpo who is at second with 29.9 points.

There is no doubt the Cameroonian center is having one of the best seasons of his career, and he has clearly made a strong case for the Most Valuable Player recognition. Beyond that, though, the mission for him remains the same: win the Larry O'Brien trophy.

The Sixers are expected to contend for the championship after trading for James Harden midseason. Embiid is a crucial part of those title aspirations, though, as he would need to put on games like he did on Saturday to give Philly a great shot at winning it all.