Photo: Harry How/ Getty

The Philadelphia 76ers, who are maybe good, beat the Clippers, who are maybe bad, in Los Angeles last night, thanks to a big night from their big center Joel Embiid. The 7-foot-2 Cameroonian has been on a short minutes leash throughout his career, though his 32-point, 16-rebound performance against L.A. in a career-high 36 minutes of work showed what he can do when Sixers management feels comfortable enough to take him all the way out of his shrink wrap.




Embiid made Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan look small and ineffective all night, but what was most enthralling about the evening was Embiid’s constant shit-talking. It began when a frustrated Willie Reed unwisely yanked Embiid to the floor and picked up a flagrant foul. All Embiid could do was laugh at him, then mouth, “He can’t fucking guard me.”

Embiid wasn’t done with Reed, later pulling a “He mad!” and sending a mock choking gesture his way.


Reed was not the lone Clipper to draw Embiid’s ire, as he stared down Blake Griffin after a big jam. He later made fun of DeAndre Jordan after Jordan fouled out, which came after Embiid yelled at Jordan that he couldn’t “fucking stop me!”


After the game, Embiid pretended not to know Reed’s name, before once again reiterating that Reed couldn’t guard him.


Owned.