Philadelphia 76ers superstar center <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/joel-embiid-62629/">Joel Embiid</a> will play tonight and make his return in Game 3 vs. the Miami Heat, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1522608908707241985">Shams Charania</a>. The gifted big man has been fitted for a mask and will need to feel comfortable in warmups, before officially getting the green light. Tip-off is set for 7 PM EST tonight for Game 3 of the series between the Heat and Sixers. He cleared concussion protocol earlier this afternoon and participated in the Sixers’ shootaround earlier today. 



Trailing 2-0 in the series, there’s no question the 76ers need Embiid back in the lineup if they want to have a successful playoff run. Their season currently hangs in the balance and they need the 7-footer more now, than ever. 



Embiid one of the most dominant players in the league and has played like the NBA MVP for much of the 2021-2022 season. Just minutes ago, the MVP finalist’s status was upgraded to <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/joel-embiid-status-for-game-3-upgraded-to-doubtful-after-clearing-concussion-protocol-partaking-in-sixers-shootaround/ar-AAWZNot?ocid=uxbndlbing">doubtful</a>, per a Sixers spokesman.



The superstar center <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/joel-embiid-injury-nba-playoffs-sixers-20220429.html">suffered an orbital fracture near his right eye and a concussion</a> when Toronto Raptors forward <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/pascal-siakam-95138/">Pascal Siakam</a> drilled him with an elbow on April 28. The Sixers won that game 132-97. It was Game 6 of the series and the victory clinched the first round series for Philadelphia. 



In addition to the orbital fracture, Embiid is <a href="https://www.on3.com/news/report-injury-update-comes-in-on-76ers-star-joel-embiid-kansas-jayhawks/">dealing with a torn ligament</a> in his right hand. He’s been playing through the pain and it’s been remarkable the number of different types of injuries the former Kansas star has dealt with throughout his NBA career. 



Not to worry, Embiid has still brought his best stuff to the floor when his team has needed him the most. In Game 3 against the Toronto Raptors, he drilled an <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/kansas-jayhawks/news/joel-embiid-nails-three-point-dagger-to-lift-philly-to-victory/">epic three-point dagger</a> for the ages. 



<h2 id="h-embiid-delivered-the-heroics-when-his-team-needed-him-the-most">Embiid delivered the heroics when his team needed him the most</h2>



The game-winning shot was the first of Embiid’s career thus far. He missed a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but when given that opportunity again in overtime, he did not disappoint. Embiid delivered a stone-cold dagger for the ages–a turnaround three-point shot that touched nothing but nylon as it went through the hoop.



The fade away three-pointer put the 76ers ahead 104-101 with 0.8 remaining. The Raptors would get one final shot on the other end, but it missed. Philadelphia now leads the series with a commanding 3-0 advantage.



Hitting shots like that is what MVPs are supposed to do and Joel Embiid has played like the MVP of the NBA for nearly the entire 2021-2022 season. There was simply not much the Raptors could have done, but their defenders were scrambling to cover him well after the catch. Standing at 7-feet, 280 pounds, it’s a near impossible matchup when a player that tall can nail a game-winning shot from that deep. The stroke was a near perfect shot-it splashed through the net touching nothing but nylon.



Embiid poured in 33 points and corralled 13 rebounds for his team in the 104-101 victory. He was recently named as one of three finalists for the MVP award and it’s been well deserved as he’s dominated throughout the 2021-2022 season. The seven-footer has stuffed the stat sheet with over 30 points per game, 11.7 rebounds per game, and 4.2 assists per game this season–numbers that are simply hard to fathom for a player his size.



<a href="https://www.on3.com/db/james-harden-55606/">James Harden</a> poured in 19 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out 10 assists in the hard-fought win. He fouled out with 26 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/tyrese-maxey-118651/">Tyrese Maxey</a> stepped up and made some big plays for the 76ers once he left the game. Maxey poured in 19 points, too, in the huge road victory for Philadelphia.

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