Joel Embiid Proclaimed Himself ‘The Most Unstoppable Player’ In The NBA After Beating Boston

Joel Embiid is never shy, and that’s especially the case after a big win. On Wednesday night in Philadelphia, the Sixers finally got their first win of the year against the Celtics in a 118-115 thriller that, hopefully, offers a preview of what a playoff series between the two could look like.

There was a scuffle between Embiid and Marcus Smart, leading to Smart’s ejection after he shoved Embiid to the ground, in the early third quarter with the Celtics up 11. From there, Embiid took over and, along with the help of 15 fourth-quarter points from Jimmy Butler, propelled the Sixers to the win.

Embiid had a ridiculous 37 points and 22 rebounds in the win, piling up the numbers against the team that’s given him the most trouble of anyone in recent years. Afterwards, Embiid had plenty to say to ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth about his performance, first calling himself the best defensive player in the league and then noting he wanted to prove he was the NBA’s most unstoppable force after so much chatter about the Celtics shutting him down in the past.

The Celtics (and their fans) will certainly remember this statement and hope to make him eat his words in the postseason, but for tonight there’s really not much you can say to Embiid after that showing. While he was a beast offensively, it was his final defensive play that helped seal the game, as he tracked back to block Kyrie Irving’s attempt at a late layup.

Irving is pretty clearly seeking contact here once he gets Embiid on his back in hopes of getting a game-tying and-1, but Embiid does a great job not to run through Irving, and instead come around his side to make the block. After that block, it was Jimmy Butler who put the dagger in Boston’s hopes of a comeback of their own, with a scrambling long two after nearly turning it over.

The Celtics have had an up-and-down year to this point, but have owned the Sixers, and many felt there was a mental hurdle the Sixers just couldn’t overcome against Boston if they were to meet in the playoffs. Wednesday’s comeback — aided by Smart’s absence in the second half as well as Aron Baynes — may help Philadelphia come postseason time in terms of confidence that they can handle this Celtics squad.