BOSTON -- The 24 hours leading up to Game 2 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics went quite well for Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid. On Tuesday night, he celebrated being named the NBA's Most Valuable Player. And, after he had no setbacks during the day Wednesday, he returned to Philadelphia's starting lineup from a nearly two-week absence with a sprained LCL in his right knee.
But the roughly two hours he and his 76ers teammates spent playing Game 2? Not so much.
While Embiid looked fine physically moving around on that right knee, finishing with 15 points and five blocks in 27 minutes, that was about the only silver lining in a 121-87 demolition by the Celitcs.