"He hates them as much as I do" - Joel Embiid gives no-holds-barred take on $8,149,001 wing's flurry against Celtics

Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers to a 118-114 upset win over the Boston Celtics on Christmas, stunning the TD Garden faithful. Embiid had plenty of help from Tyrese Maxey and the well-known "Celtics Killer," Caleb Martin. It was the Sixers' first win in Boston since December 2021.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Embiid had nothing but praise for Martin, who finished with 23 points, three rebounds and two assists. Martin made eight 3-point shots, living up to his "Celtics Killer" persona.

Martin, who is earning $8.1 million this season as part of a four-year, $35 million contract, only had 18 makes from beyond the arc before the game, making his performance against the Celtics more notable.

"He's playing against Boston," Embiid said, according to Sixers Wire. "He hates them as much as I do, I guess I'll take it. Nah, but he was great. I like it when he’s not thinking."

"Tonight, he was just not thinking about it, every time he had the ball, shoot or drive, obviously, he made his shots. We need him to keep doing that and building that confidence."

Caleb Martin earned the "Celtics Killer" nickname during his time with the Miami Heat. Martin was instrumental in the Heat's run to the 2023 NBA Finals, where they defeated the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The versatile forward made timely shots and defensive stops during that series to eliminate the Celtics in seven games.

In Wednesday's win, Martin made some big shots in the fourth quarter to help the Sixers build a lead. When the Celtics made their inevitable run to get back in the game, Martin played well defensively.

Tyrese Maxey had a game-high 33 points, along with four rebounds, 12 assists and three steals. Joel Embiid added 27 points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes. Paul George struggled with his shot but still finished with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

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Joel Embiid needs to stay healthy if the Sixers want to compete

Joel Embiid needs to stay healthy if the Sixers want to compete. (Photo: IMAGN)

One of the biggest takeaways from the Philadelphia 76ers' win over the Boston Celtics is that Joel Embiid needs to stay healthy if the team wants to remain competitive, according to Fox Sports. Embiid has played only nine games this season and is currently nursing a sinus fracture.

The Sixers had a rough start to the season, with many expecting them to give up and tank for a top pick in next year’s loaded draft. However, Maxey has been stellar over the past month, while George is still trying to find his rhythm after two minor knee injuries since joining the team.

Embiid remains an MVP-caliber player as long as he's healthy. There are no issues with his play, but his durability and availability are always in question. He even had a scary fall during warmups when he rolled his ankle on a security guard's foot.