Joel Embiid faced his toughest test yet this season during the Philadelphia 76ers’ emphatic 119-95 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. The franchise cornerstone struggled mightily on the offensive end, finishing with a scoreless 0-for-9 shooting night from the field. Despite the lopsided loss, Embiid’s post-game comments revealed a player grappling with the psychological weight of a persistent shooting drought, particularly from deep.
Sixers star admits mental toll of 0-for-9 night but vows to keep shooting
The statistical evidence underscores the severity of Embiid’s current slump. He failed to convert any of his two three-point attempts, a result that drops his season-long three-point percentage to a dismal 11.1% (3-of-28), according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. His only scoring contribution came from the charity stripe, where he drained all six free-throw attempts. Beyond the lack of points, Embiid still contributed seven rebounds and two blocks, but his inability to score from the field left the Sixers’ offense stagnant against a dominant Cavaliers squad.
Addressing the frustration of missing shots at every level, Embiid acknowledged the mental challenge of the slump. “I believe in myself, but you know, when you’re in these moments and nothing is going in, whether it’s 3, big range, everything, layups, it’s hard to just not look at yourself and be down,” Embiid stated. He emphasized resilience over retreat, adding, “But yeah, you gotta keep going and stay up and keep walking.” This determination to maintain his outside threat, despite the poor numbers, remains a critical variable for the 76ers as they seek to stabilize their offense in the coming weeks.
Source: Yahoo Sports
