Heat fans starting to worry after losing Game 3 in Joel Embiid’s return

Joel Embiid returned for Game 3, and he helped lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 99-79 win over the Miami Heat. Now, Heat fans are starting to worry.

The Miami Heat got off to the best of starts to their Eastern Conference Semi-Finals series against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers were without star Joel Embiid, who suffered a concussion and an orbital fracture in the first-round, for the first two games. Yet, ahead of Game 3 on May 6, he cleared concussion protocol and was activated for Game 3.

Embiid had an impressive showing in his return to the court, as he helped lead the 76ers to a 99-79 win over the Heat to cut the series to 2-1.

With the NBA MVP favorite back, some Heat fans might be starting to worry a bit.

Heat fans start to worry after Joel Embiid helps 76ers win Game 3 in return

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Despite returning to the team on short rest, Embiid logged a total of 36 minutes in Game 3. In that span, Embiid scored 18 points while shooting 5-for-12 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free-throw line, and grabbed 11 rebounds to secure a double-double.

The Heat struggled with scoring. They only had two players score double-digit points, and they were Jimmy Butler (33 points, 12-of-22 FG) and Tyler Herro (14 points, 5-of-15 FG). Not to mention they were 7-for-30 from the 3-point line. To put that in comparison, the Heat scored as many 3-pointers as Danny Green did in the same game (7-of-9)!

Bringing Embiid back provided the spark that the 76ers desperately needed to avoid the dreaded 0-3 deficit. This does not mean that the tide is turning in the series completely. Miami can take a 3-1 series lead with a Game 4 victory on Sunday, May 8.