From The Sports Desk: Joel Embiid’s revenge tour

May 4, 2026 - 17:32

The Philadelphia 76ers are moving on to the second round of the NBA playoffs, and Joel Embiid is the main reason why. On Saturday night, the league's reigning MVP delivered a dominant performance to vanquish the Boston Celtics in a decisive Game 7. The win exorcises some demons for Embiid, who has faced criticism in past postseasons for failing to get past the second round. Now, he gets a chance to rewrite that narrative against the New York Knicks.

Embiid was a force on both ends of the floor, scoring 35 points and grabbing 15 rebounds while anchoring a defense that held the Celtics to just 88 points. It was a complete reversal from earlier in the series, when Boston's switching defense seemed to fluster the big man. But Embiid adjusted, finding his spots in the mid-range and drawing fouls at the rim. The crowd in Philadelphia was electric, sensing that this year feels different.

The Knicks present a different kind of challenge. They are physical, deep, and play at a grinding pace. New York's frontcourt, led by Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson, will try to body Embiid and force him into tough shots. But after toppling the top-seeded Celtics, the 76ers have momentum. Embiid is playing with a chip on his shoulder, and he looks determined to carry this team as far as he can. The revenge tour is just getting started.