Joel Embiid Trash Talks Drake, 76ers Stun Raptors In Game 3 Instant Classic

PHILADELPHIA, PA — It seemed, at certain times during the Sixers stunning overtime win over the Raptors Wednesday night, that it wasn't just Toronto's entire starting five trying to cover Joel Embiid. It was the whole arena, maybe all of Canada itself descending down with futility upon one of the greatest big men to hit the court in a generation.

Triple coverage has become a norm. Once his massive frame is flagrantly fouled from finesse into something feral, Embiid's drives to the hoop more closely resemble a fullback muscling into a red zone of linebackers. The predominant and lingering image of the every game is Embiid pulling his jersey up to his eye to wipe away sweat as he sidles up to the foul line.

As if handling every Siakam and Anunoby and Birch thrown his way wasn't enough, Embiid has welcomed the barbs of Raptors head coach Nick Nurse ("I’m going to keep making all the free throws if you keep fouling," Embiid reportedly told Nurse after game 2), tossed his hands up in the air in defiant celebration to the roaring Toronto arena, and finally took on the rapper Drake.

Drake, who had previously said "Embiid can't play here," referring to Toronto, watched as Embiid drained an absurd, grab and go, fade away, game-winning three pointer with less than a second left in overtime.

"I'm coming for a sweep," Embiid is seen telling Drake moments later.

The Sixers and the rest of Philadelphia may never forget the last playoff game they played in Toronto, when they were on the other end of an improbable buzzer beater from that postseason's own juggernaut, Kawhi Leonard. But as Wednesday night made plain, 2022 is a year of the karmic scales of basketball justice balancing themselves. It's the year of Embiid.