THE EMOTIONS that Joel Embiid can elicit from 76ers fans were on full display in the span of seconds Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Wells Fargo Center.
Holding the ball at the foul line extended to the right of the basket with just over seven minutes left in the third quarter, the 7-2, 265-pounder took one power dribble past Mason Plumlee and threw down perhaps the most thunderous dunk of his season. But as the crowd erupted in unison, Embiid crumpled to the floor grasping his left knee, which buckled awkwardly back as he landed.