Ailing Embiid erupts for 50

PHILADELPHIA -- Joel Embiid is suffering from Bell’s palsy and played Game 3 with a bulky knee brace to sturdy the 7-footer after dealing with injuries all season.

The lingering effects of the time off from his most recent knee surgery s ucked him into a depression -- and that was before Embiid was hit with a form of facial paralysis. Embiid pushed aside the pain -- mental and physical -- and embraced the pressure after he vowed the 76ers were “going to win this series” against the New York Knicks.

Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-saving third quarter on Thursday night to lead the Philadelphia

76ers to a 125-114 win in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

After getting punished in New York, the Sixers pushed back.

“They want to bring the physicality,” Embiid said. “We can be physical, too.”

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2. They at least have a shot now -- the Knicks lead the series 2-1 and Game 4 is Sunday in Philly.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

Embiid, who scored a franchise-best 70 points against San Antonio in January, became the first player in NBA history to score 50 points on fewer than 20 shots in a playoff game.

Last season’s NBA MVP, Embiid finally turned the crowd -- which had a distinct New York flavour in South Philly --- into one rocking for the home team. The AllStar centre played more like a sharpshooting guard in the third, when he saved the season.

The Sixers pecked away at a three-point halftime deficit when Embiid got hot. He hit one 3 and then two more --- the last two with assists from Tyrese Maxey -- that gave the Sixers an 82-72 lead. His fourth 3 pushed the lead to 98-85.

Maxey added two 3s in the quarter and the 76ers went a whopping 9 of 12 from beyond the arc for 43 points. Embiid mostly kept his cool and was in the mix on both ends of the court all game. Embiid had 17 points, three fouls and in a first half where they again weren’t good enough to look like a team that could beat the Knicks.