Joel Embiid is not backing down from Russell Westbrook despite losing the game as he trolled the reigning Most Valuable player on Instagram. The Oklahoma City Thunder took down the Philadelphia 76ers 122-112 with Embiid acknowledging the loss but not without firing a shot at Westbrook.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BehKB2yln-2/?hl=en&taken-by=joelembiid

The image Embiid used is from a moment early in the game when he posterized the Thunder's superstar point guard.

That sure escalated quickly.

The two engaged in a staredown contest in a game within the game. The initial salvo came from the seven-foot Embiid who went to the middle of the lane to throw down a thunderous slam dunk over the 6-foot-3 Westbrook who afterward fell down the court trying to guard the Sixers’ star.

Embiid stared down mockingly at Westbrook as he headed toward the other end of the court.

But this was just the first quarter.

Later, Westbrook took over the game down the stretch for the Thunder as he narrowly missed a triple-double with 37 points, nine rebounds, 14 assists, to go along with two steals and just one turnover.

As he dribbled out the clock with seconds to go and the game out of reach, Westbrook stared menacingly toward the Sixers bench, specifically at Embiid. It was his way of saying that the outcome of the game is all that matters.

https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/957791615380320256

Embiid wound up with a big game as well, scoring 27 points with 10 rebounds, and two blocks.

It’s the kind of match-up that fans everywhere would love to see play out more in future Thunder and Sixers games. However, the season series between these two teams have already ended, but there's still the All-Star Game next month which will have these two players go up against each other once again, this time, for $100,000.