Adrian Fedkiw
The streak is over, but Joel Embiid’s future is a lot more important.
Philadelphia had its collective hearts in its throats once again as the 7-foot-2 Cameroonian took another awkward fall, this time after he threw down an emphatic dunk along the right wing midway through the third quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 93-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Crazy swing of emotions. Emphatic dunk was sweet, then heart was in throat when he was on floor, then he jogs back to locker room. I'm good pic.twitter.com/TtTGZjvuam
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) January 21, 2017
JoJo, who was diagnosed with a left knee contusion, received a standing ovation when he returned.
HE'S BACK!!! @AdrianFedkiw pic.twitter.com/G9DriWaNpx
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) January 21, 2017
Embiid then exited again when he began limping fter driving down the lane and converting a left-handed scoop layup.
All Embiid needed was one dribble to get to the tin from the top of the arc, nice lefty finish, but that knee is giving him problems again pic.twitter.com/ZOsr3HJn4e
— Philly Influencer (@PHL_Influencer) January 21, 2017
That scoop was Embiid’s 18th point and he didn’t return, snapping his 10-game streak of scoring 10-or-more points. He was a game behind tying Allen Iverson’s Sixers franchise rookie record of 11 consecutive contests netting 20-plus points. Embiid exited with over nine minutes remianing, there’s no doubt he would’ve gotten to 20 points again had he not reacted so gingerly following the play.
Embiid, Blake Griffin, Tim Duncan, Iverson and Glenn Robinston are the last five rookies to put up 20-plus points in 10 straight games.
That’s pretty impressive company.