Sixers big man Joel Embiid made a statement in his return to the court last night, as he scored a game-high 23 points and blocked three shots in Philadelphia's 20-point victory over the Miami Heat.
Embiid, who hadn't played since suffering a fractured orbital bone on March 28, told reporters after the game that he is going to be a "nightmare" for the Heat moving forward in the series. He also said that the Heat can't guard him, that he enjoys blowing teams out like they did last night, and that he's not here to make friends.
Some of Embiid's memorable quotes following the Sixers' 128-108 Game 3 victory include:
"They were doing everything they could to take me out," Embiid said with a laugh as he sat at his locker after the game, according to ESPN. "But they can't guard me."
"I'm glad I got [Justise Winslow] back on the other end and kind of shut him up, because he was talking big time when he did block me and you don't really want to talk trash to me."
"I feel like I am the best defensive player in the league."
"I could see their faces when you make that kind of shot, the guys on the other end, they just go like, 'Ugh' and that's good. When you see that in their faces, that's good."
"It's basketball, it's always good to blow a team out. I think we were up 18 or 20, and if you can get that lead up to 22, I think that's good. I like blowing teams out like we did. We are not here to make friends. We are here to win a series."
The Sixers and Heat will return to the American Airlines Arena in Miami tomorrow afternoon for Game 4 at 2:30pm ET.