Doc Rivers said star Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid had a few words for him as he walked off the TD Garden court after their 106-96 defeat of the Boston Celtics.
“I’m back,” Embiid told his coach.
“I noticed,” Rivers replied.
In just his second game back after being sidelined for 10 games by a bruised bone in his left knee, Embiid scored 35 points in a dominant performance.
Danny Green added 17 points while Ben Simmons had 12 points as the 76ers posted their third-straight victory over the Celtics to sweep the season series for the first time since the 2000-2001 season.
Embiid went 16 for 20 at the foul line and grabbed six rebounds.
“I’m not all the way there, but tonight is a big step,” Embiid said.
It’s also a small bit of revenge for Philadelphia, who were swept by Boston in the first round of the post-season last year.
“It’s not just about what happened in the playoffs, every single year you want to win this match-up,” Embiid said.
“That’s the mindset we gotta have against every team. But against Boston, that’s our rival.”
The win took Philly back to the top of the eastern conference alongside the Brooklyn Nets, both at 35-16, while Boston are eighth.
A 41-point haul from Stephen Curry helped the Golden State Warriors snap a three-game skid with a 122-121 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, who were without MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo again due to knee soreness.
The Los Angeles Lakers came out with “an angry, nasty defensive disposition,” coach Frank Vogel said, two days after an embarrassing loss to the Clippers and it paid off in a 110-101 win over the Toronto Raptors.
Paul George top scored for the Clippers as they dominated the Portland Trail Blazers 133-116 while the Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks both won to consolidate their places as the fourth seeds in their respective conferences.
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