Canadian rapper Drake ruthlessly trolled Joel Embiid and his trademark airplane celebration after the 76ers center left Tuesday's Game 5 meeting, and Raptors fans joined in.
Embiid had been listed as probable for the matchup with an illness but was left sick and exhausted with just over nine minutes left to play in Philadelphia's eventual 125-89 blowout loss at Toronto. He totaled 13 points and six rebounds on 5 of 10 shooting after scoring 11 points on 2 of 7 shooting in Game 4.
Sixers coach Brett Brown addressed the negative comments made about Embiid after the game, calling them "grossly unfair" considering the star is dealing with an upper respiratory infection.
"(Embiid) was trying to do whatever he could to represent his organization and play basketball for the Philadelphia 76ers," Brown told reporters. "I'm kind of disappointed. He gets shaken around to me too much. He's trying to play for us. He's trying to get out of bed with a significant temperature and come represent the organization. I think it's grossly unfair, some of the criticism that he gets. I don't understand that.
"It's not ideal. You wish he were at shootaround, you wish he were in film sessions but he's had a temperature for the last few days that's kept him in bed. And so, take whatever you want out of that answer."
It may not end here between Embiid and Toronto, though. Raptors broadcaster Leo Rautins reported that Embiid told Drake, "I'll be back" as he made his way to the bench, suggesting the 76ers will win Game 6 in Philadelphia and come back to Toronto for Game 7.
With Toronto holding a 3-2 lead in the second-round series, the 76ers are slated to host the Raptors at 8 p.m. ET Thursday/5:30am IST Friday.
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