Philadelphia pulled off a wild 104-101 overtime win against the Raptors in Game 3 of their 2022 playoff series, pushing them to a commanding 3-0 series lead. This wasn’t just another win, though, it was a gut check moment, especially for Joel Embiid, who dropped an incredible 18 points in the third quarter alone to drag his team back from a serious deficit.
Pressure Cooker: Embiid and the Sixers Faced a Breaking Point
Look, the pressure on Embiid and the entire Sixers franchise leading up to this series was absolutely insane. After those early postseason wins in 2018 and 2019, the “honeymoon” with the fans was completely over. We all remember the painful reality: getting whitewashed by the rival Celtics in the 2020 COVID bubble and then that absolutely brutal choke job against Atlanta in 2021. Even though they rolled into this series having won 51 games in the 2021-22 season, second only to Miami’s 53 wins, and the Ben Simmons headache was finally gone, the perception was still there. Fans were calling them choke artists. This series against a struggling Raptors team, one that everyone knew was rebuilding and not contending for a title, felt like a no-win situation for Philly. They needed to dominate.
First Half Flop to Third Quarter Firestorm
Philly had blown Toronto out by 20 points in Game 1 and cruised to a 15-point victory in Game 2. Everyone expected another easy win, but Game 3 in Toronto was a different story entirely. The Raptors, down 2-0, came out swinging on their home floor. They led by 10 points at the end of the first quarter and again at halftime. It felt like the Sixers were sleepwalking, especially Embiid. He had a measly five points in the first half, only attempted five field goals, and turned the ball over four times in the opening two quarters. Seriously, it felt like another one of those games where Philly would just blink and lose. But then, something shifted. The Sixers decided to fight. Embiid, who played all 12 minutes of the third quarter, exploded for 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, showing a level of aggression we hadn’t seen all night. Suddenly, that 10-point halftime deficit was cut to just one heading into the fourth.
That third-quarter surge from Embiid wasn’t just good, it was a statement. He ended the game with a monstrous stat line of 33 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block, shooting 12-of-20 from the field and 3-of-8 from deep, all with a +8 rating. This wasn’t the Sixers of recent postseason history, the team that looked good early only to get tight and find a way to lose in the second half. This was a rare moment where Philadelphia finally smelled blood in the water. They knew they were the superior team. This win, an overtime thriller at 104-101, meant they went up 3-0 in the series. It was a clear message that despite their past struggles, they were not going down without a fight, especially not on Embiid’s watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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