Joel Embiid was voted an All-Star starter for the first time in his 62-game career on Thursday night. That’s all it’s taken to prove how dominant he is. He justified the nod in the Sixers’ 89-80 win over the Celtics.
All-Star Joel Embiid has moved on from Rihanna, and 4 other things from Thursday night
Embiid shined bright like a diamond against the Celtics.
Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images
Embiid went off for 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting, 16 rebounds, and six assists. He dominated the paint and got to the line seven times. There was no answer for him:
He was too much for a Celtics team that was without Kyrie Irving, and there were times when he looked like one of the best guards on the court. His vision is on another level from any non-Nikola Jokic 7-footer seeing the floor.
We also learned on Thursday night that the players in the league right now aren’t huge fans of Embiid. His showboating prowess and social media tendencies seem to rub people the wrong way. Kristaps Porzingis earned more votes from the players, but it wasn’t enough to jump Embiid in the overall standings. The honor is his.
Embiid addressed his All-Star status after his team’s win and was asked about an old tweet. This one:
Many suspect that he’s talking about Rihanna, who Embiid claims he’d have to move on from now!
This guy never fails to entertain.
All-Star starters and captains were announced
Things went according to script as the five Eastern Conference and five Western Conference starters were announced. LeBron James led the vote total for the East, making him one of two captains for the new-style All-Star game. Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMar DeRozan, Kyrie Irving and Embiid filled out the other four slots.
Steph Curry led the West, meaning he’ll be the other captain. He was followed by Kevin Durant, James Harden, DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis.
The two captains will draft All-Star teams (though we won’t get to see it on TV).
The Cavs nearly blew a 23-point lead to the Magic for good
Up by 20 points at the half, Cleveland should’ve sailed for an easy victory at home over a not good Orlando team. That didn’t happen, as a tough month of January continues for the Cavs.
They turned the ball over 19 times, shot worse than 30 percent from three-point range, and, as LeBron put it, the team “is in Strugglesville.”
Cleveland won the game, 104-103, but that’s only because Elfrid Payton(‘s hair) blew this layup:
That was close.
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LeBron had an unreal pass that Dwyane Wade could only marvel at:
Langston Galloway probably admitted to voting for himself in the All-Star Game:
Scores
Sixers 89, Celtics 80 (Liberty Ballers recap | Celtics Blog recap)
Cavaliers 104, Magic 103 (Fear the Sword recap | Orlando Pinstriped Post recap)
Rockets 116, Timberwolves 98 (The Dream Shake recap | Canis Hoopus recap)
Trail Blazers 100, Pacers 86 (Blazers Edge recap | Indy Cornrows recap)
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