Fansided

Justise Winslow steps on Joel Embiid’s mask and is no longer welcome in the city of Philadelphia

By Philip Rossman-Reich

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 19: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before the game against the Miami Heat in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 19: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before the game against the Miami Heat in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Justise Winslow is not going to make any friends in Philadelphia after stepping on Joel Embiid’s mask in the second quarter of Game 3.

Joel Embiid made his return to the lineup for the Philadelphia 76ers after missing the first two games of the series and the final eight games of the regular season with a fracture to his orbital bone and a concussion.

In order to play, Embiid was forced to don a complicated looking mask that included both a plastic-looking mask that covers his face and a separate visor-like covering for his eyes.

This is not Richard Hamilton’s clear face protector. This is a full-on face covering he has to wear while he is playing.

To say, the least, it looks uncomfortable to play. And despite the high score throughout the game through one half, the 76ers and Heat have played an incredibly physical game. Eventually, it would get knocked down.

And this being the Playoffs, the pettiness and gamesmanship would take play. And Justise Winslow was going to test just how sturdy that mask was.

Yes, that is Winslow seemingly purposefully stepping on Embiid’s mask. The one he kind of needs to play in this game and protect his still-healing face.

I am sure what he was trying to do was test the sturdiness of the mask. He then threw it in the woods because he felt it would be more comfortable in its home.

Call it Playoff gamesmanship, but the Heat are certainly looking to keep Embiid out as much as possible. Already, his presence in the paint has deterred plenty of drives and made life difficult for them. Even though Embiid did not score until there were 90 seconds left in the first half.

And that was not the only time Miami went for Embiid’s mask. Here is Hassan Whiteside breaking mask No. 2.

The 76ers seemed to have brought plenty of backups. And Embiid is slowly getting himself back into rhythm. Meanwhile, the 76ers and Heat are in the middle of a back-and-forth affair for control of this series.

Next: Kevin Love expected to play through thumb injury

To be sure, when Miami returns to Philadelphia for Game 5, there is going to be hell to pay for disrupting Embiid’s comeback and purposefully going for his mask.

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