Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid came into Tuesday’s game against the Boston Celtics very clearly in discussion to be named the 2022-23 NBA MVP. He helped his case in a huge way against Boston, leading to a lot of fans calling the MVP race.
Embiid dominated all night, finishing the game with 52 points to go along with 13 rebounds and six assists in a 103-101 victory. Even more impressively, he shot 20 of 25 from the field and 12 of 13 from the free-throw line.
The winner of the MVP award often has a standout moment that fans look back at years afterward. Embiid’s emphatic dunk to get to 50 points in the game could certainly be that for him, with a terrific call from TNT’s Ian Eagle on the slam.
“Embiid… Cranks it down! Joel Embiid has got a fifty burger!” said Eagle.
"EMBIID… CRANKS IT DOWN! JOEL EMBIID HAS GOT A FIFTY BURGER!"- Ian Eagle 🏀🔨🔥🎙️
Embiid finished with 52 points in a 103-101 Sixers win over the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/cyYC1R8JC4
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 5, 2023
Many took to social media after the game to sing his praises and declare him the MVP award winner.
Joel Embiid wrapped up MVP tonight?
52 points 🔥🔥
20-25 Joel Embiid
19-53 Rest of Sixers
pic.twitter.com/rUWwjLiUVn— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 5, 2023
"I don't think Joel Embiid should be the MVP."
[watches tape of #Sixers' April 4 game vs. #Celtics]
"I don't think anyone but Joel Embiid should be the MVP."
— Mike Sielski (@MikeSielski) April 5, 2023
What a bananas finish in Philly. Sixers tried to give up an impossible to give up lead, but get away with it.
Oh and Joel Embiid had 52. He’s your MVP. It’s over.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) April 5, 2023
Nah man y’all better stop playing with @JoelEmbiid MVP.. send it to Philly now!
— Quincy Pondexter (@QuincyPondexter) April 5, 2023
RIP to the very lively nba mvp discourse this season. It’s been a good run but the conversation is over now. Congrats to Joel Embiid for putting it to rest and ending the debate tonight. Well deserved big fella 👏
— Matt Driffill (@MDchu) April 5, 2023
Look at @JoelEmbiid putting together a signature game to solidify his claim as MVP. 👀🤔 #BrotherlyLove https://t.co/y6egNlnB6y
— NBA All-World (@nbaallworld) April 5, 2023
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers offered his take on the MVP race after the game, saying that the “race is over”.
“The MVP race is over,” said Rivers on Joel Embiid. “We couldn’t make shots tonight. The man just scored half our points in an NBA game. I am biased, but the MVP race is over.”
"The MVP race is over… [Joel Embiid] just scored half our points. In an NBA game. And I'm biased, but the MVP race is over."- Doc Rivers 🏀🔥 pic.twitter.com/87EgMDyceD
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 5, 2023
Another factor that heavily leans toward Embiid winning MVP is an abnormally poor performance from fellow contender for the award Nikola Jokić, on Tuesday. Jokić finished Tuesday’s game against the Houston Rockets with just 14 points and eight turnovers in a blowout loss.
With just three games remaining in the regular season for the 76ers, Embiid may have put the final impression needed to take home the highly coveted award.