In a nail-biting NBA Cup showdown on Friday night, the Philadelphia 76ers squared off against their fierce rivals, the Boston Celtics, for the second time this season. Their opening-night clash had been a thriller, with Philly edging out Boston 117-116 in a seesaw battle. This time, the undefeated Sixers aimed to extend their hot streak, but the defending champions had other plans. The Celtics held on for a razor-thin 109-108 victory, surviving a furious late-game rally from Philadelphia—capped by Joel Embiid’s heartbreaking missed three-pointer that could have sealed the win.
Embiid, the towering 76ers superstar, has been easing back into action under a strict minutes restriction, still shaking off the rust from a grueling knee injury saga. Yet, even in limited play, he’s proven his scoring prowess, dropping 20 points in the loss while drawing relentless defensive attention. But it’s his infamous foul-baiting antics that stole the spotlight off the court, igniting a firestorm from Boston’s ultimate sports superfan, Bill Simmons.
The podcaster and Celtics diehard didn’t hold back on X (formerly Twitter), unleashing a blistering rant: “Nobody gets more ludicrous calls than Embiid – literally no one. He’s the only guy who can kick his legs out on a three, kick someone in the nuts and then shoot 3 free throws. It’s hilarious. Never change NBA.” Simmons’ words paint Embiid as the league’s ultimate protected species, a player who turns contact into gold at the free-throw line. And on Friday, it worked like a charm—Embiid went a perfect 7-for-7 from the stripe, even if his game-winner clanged off the rim.
Sure, Embiid’s foul-drawing mastery hasn’t quite hit its peak form from his MVP days, and he’s looked a step slower out of the gate this season. But as an offensive juggernaut, he forces defenses to swarm, creating chaos that benefits his teammates. Critics like Simmons might cry foul (pun intended), but if it earns whistles and points, why stop? Embiid’s blend of size, skill, and savvy makes him a nightmare matchup—and apparently, a magnet for controversy.
Despite the defeat, the 76ers are showing serious promise amid preseason doubts. Embiid’s health loomed large, and Paul George’s offseason knee surgery added to the uncertainty. But young guns like Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes have stepped up in a big way, delivering explosive scoring bursts that have kept Philly afloat. Maxey and Edgecombe, in particular, have formed a dynamic duo, lighting up scoreboards with their electric play.
With Embiid ramping up toward full strength and George poised for his season debut any day now, the Sixers’ ceiling is skyrocketing. This loss to Boston might sting, but it’s just a bump on the road to contention. Up next? A Sunday road tilt against the struggling Brooklyn Nets—prime opportunity for Philly to bounce back and remind the league why they’re a force to be reckoned with.