Giannis Antetokounmpo's Bucks came out on top in the heavyweight Eastern Conference bout against Joel Embiid's Sixers on Tuesday night, 118-116.
With the 76ers down two points on the final possession, James Harden missed what would have been the go-ahead three-pointer. The ball ricocheted into the hands of Joel Embiid right underneath the basket, but his shot at the rim was swatted away by Giannis with just a few ticks left on the clock.
The play was initially ruled a goaltend, but was eventually overturned and deemed a clean block.
GIANNIS DENIES EMBIID FOR WIN. REFS OVERTURN GOALTEND CALL. 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/2DLkqZs5GN
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) March 30, 2022
The Sixers star spoke candidly to reporters after the game on the fateful play. While the referees eventually ruled in favor of the Bucks star, Embiid doesn't think it was as clear cut as the ruling determined it to be, especially given that it was initially ruled in favor of the Sixers.
GAME SAVING BLOCK BY GIANNIS🚨 pic.twitter.com/XbirgbnGza
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 30, 2022
Via Sixers beat reporter Gina Mizell:
Joel Embiid on Giannis' game-clinching block: “I thought it was close [between a clean block and a goaltend]. I probably should have gone up harder, but in that situation, I didn’t know how much time was left. So I was just trying to get the ball off or quickly up.”
Joel Embiid admittedly didn't know just how much time was left on the clock given that Harden milked the clock before going up for his shot. But with more than three seconds left in game action, the Sixers star could have easily gathered himself and gone up stronger, or even given a pump fake that would've given him an uncontested look at the rim.
But in all fairness to Joel Embiid, very few defenders in this NBA are getting that block on him in the NBA. Giannis Antetokounmpo just so happens to be a former Defensive Player of the Year with limbs for days.
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