Unveiled moments before the game like a long-held state secret, Joel Embiid did play in Toronto on Saturday for the first time. And after the first few minutes of action, it looked like we were all in for a long game. Embiid scored in the post, from beyond the arc, while driving down the lane — he had eight points in the opening frame, took all of the team’s shots in the first few minutes, and truly was doing it all.
But the Raptors refused to be bullied by the force of Embiid’s game or personality.