PHILADELPHIA -- The Sixers didn't even know if Joel Embiid would play right up until pre-game warm-ups, less than an hour before tip-off.
What happened next is nothing new. No, this wouldn't be the first time this story has been told.
Embiid was questionable with an ankle injury, and general manager Bryan Colangelo indicated on Friday morning that there was a good chance Embiid was unavailable for the Pelicans due to left ankle soreness.
Then, Embiid made two three-pointers to start the game. He followed that up by pump-faking Pelicans forward Nikola Mirotic from three-point range, Mirotic bit, Embiid performed a nifty spin move and converted a fade-away jumper over multiple Pelicans defenders.