MIAMI _ The 76ers welcomed back their best player, and got back to their winning ways.
Joel Embiid finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocks as the Sixers defeated the Miami Heat, 128-108, Thursday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at AmericanAirlines Arena. Philly will take a 2-1 series advantage into Game 4 on Saturday afternoon at the same arena.
The Sixers lost Game 2 at the Wells Fargo Center on Monday. But before that, they had won 17 consecutive games dating back to the regular season.
Ben Simmons finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and four steals; Dario Saric had 21 points and seven rebounds; and Marco Belinelli had 21 points off the bench.
But the focus was on Embiid in his first game back since fracturing the orbital bone near his left eye and suffering a concussion against the New York Knicks on March 28. The all-star had missed 10 straight games over that time.
Embiid donned a gray mask with protective eyewear built into it. The eyewear resembled a visor. Stronger than the normal mask, it is made out of carbon and polycarbonate.
Fortunately for him, the Sixers traveled with several of them. The center had to wear three different ones during the game.
The first mask was damaged in the first half during a scuffle on the floor. The visor part popped out and Justise Winslow appeared to purposely step on it. Then Embiid damaged the second one when knocked to the ground while being fouled in the third quarter.
Things got testy in this physical game. The Heat kept trying to rough up the Sixers, who wouldn't back down.
The biggest altercation came 1 minute, 34 seconds into the second quarter, when Dwyane Wade and Justin Anderson got tangled up. Wade, one of the NBA's all-time greats, yanked Anderson's arm, slinging the Sixers reserve swingman to the ground on the baseline. Wade then stood in front of Anderson, yapping at the Sixer. Anderson quickly got up and the two had to be separated.
Following the officials' review, the two received physical taunting technical fouls. Then Simmons and Heat power forward James Johnson were called for double technicals with 4:22 left in the quarter. And at the 8:15 mark of the third quarter, Belinelli and Heat point guard Goran Dragic received double technicals.
Embiid elbowed Winslow to the ground after the Heat reserve blocked his shot with 10:58 left. Winslow looked up at him and proceeded to talk trash. On the ensuing play, Embiid blocked Winslow's shot and fired back with his own trash talk. Winslow later gave Embiid a fist bump during a break in the action.
The all-NBA candidate went on make huge plays down the stretch for the Sixers. He responded with a personal 7-0 run after the Heat closed the gap to 112-105 with 5:40 remaining.
Embiid's turnaround jumper made it a nine-point game 21 seconds later. Then his 3-pointer put the Sixers up 117-105 with 4:39 to play. His foul shots at the 3:24 mark gave them a 14-point cushion.
Dragic paced the Heat with 23 points. Winslow had 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. All of his points came in the first half.
