MIAMI — As soon as it was announced that Joel Embiid would play in Game 3 the night centered on the 76ers big man, and his mask.
What would the mask look like? How would Embiid fare on the court with his new protective gear? Would the mask hold up under the physical nature of the game?
Sixers coach Brett Brown said that the aesthetics of the mask would be a surprise when he was asked in his pregame media availability. In Embiid’s early warm-up time on the court, roughly an hour before tip-off, he elected to keep the mask off, holding everyone in suspense.