Justise Winslow Stepping On Joel Embiid’s Mask Might Have Backfired

The Miami Heat aren’t going down without a fight. But Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers appear to be willing sparring partners.

Embiid made his triumphant return from an orbital fracture Thursday night, sporting a black mask to protect his face in Game 3 of the teams’ first-round playoff series. Justise Winslow decided to knock the Sixers star down a few pegs, though. So, after Embiid tossed the clear plastic part of his mask on the floor, the Heat forward went over and stomped on the thing in an attempt to break it.

That’s cold, Justise.

The move forced the Sixers’ staff to find Embiid a replacement plastic piece. But other than that inconvenience, Winslow’s attempt at sabotage didn’t exactly work: Embiid finished the night with 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 30 minutes of Philly’s 128-108 win.

When asked about Winslow’s little stunt after the game, the never-bashful Embiid hinted there could be payback to come.

“Little do they know I have about 50 of them,” the Sixers big man said of his masks, via Jon Johnson of Philadelphia’s SportsRadio 94WIP. “It’s going to take much more than that to get me out of this series. I’m going to be a nightmare for them, too.”

The Sixers now own a 2-1 series lead entering Game 4 in Miami on Saturday night, and it appears the Heat will have to deal with a very motivated Embiid.