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[Saba Sports News] Prior to their game against the Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich may have inadvertently provoked Joel Embiid, often referred to as “the bear.” Embiid responded by setting a Sixers franchise record, scoring 70 points in a 133-123 victory at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa.
This remarkable performance coincided with the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game. Embiid, the current league MVP, had already amassed 59 points by the end of the third quarter. The game’s competitiveness necessitated his presence on the court until the final minute.
Before the match, in a humorous tone, Popovich claimed that the Spurs would aggressively target Embiid, using exaggerated and playful language. Although Popovich’s comments were in jest, Embiid took his performance seriously, scoring 24 points in the first quarter alone.
Popovich’s genuine remarks about the Spurs’ strategy against Embiid were more respectful. However, his humorous, provocative comments gained more attention on social media.
According to The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, Popovich remarked that it might not matter how they approached playing against Embiid, offering to provide a less serious response if desired.
Despite trailing by as much as 19 points, the Spurs managed to reduce the deficit to single digits with over 3 minutes left in the game. However, they ultimately could not counteract Embiid’s dominant scoring.