Joel Embiid makes incredible NBA playoffs history

How does a player register 50 points in less than 20 shot attempts?

The obvious answer would be that Embiid benefited from being sent to the free-throw line 21 times.

However, those who paid close attention know that Embiid earned his points by making a series of tough shots against a stifling Knicks defense. The big man went 10-of-16 on contested shots and 8-of-10 in the second half with an average FGA distance of 19.8 feet. 

Embiid's shot chart was the biggest indicator of his compromised health. He attempted only three shots in the restricted area and had to resort to mid-range jumpers for most of the night. A healthy Embiid would have aggressively caught the ball in the low post and gone to work.

That he scored 50 points despite being hobbled is simply remarkable.

"He's out there fighting his tail off, he's not 100 percent," Tyrese Maxey said of his teammate. "He's going out there giving his all both offensively and defensively. We appreciate him for that."

Embiid, who's also been battling a mild case of Bell's palsy, gave insight into his mindset after Game 3.

"I'm not a quitter," Embiid told reporters. "I gotta keep pushing, fighting and putting my body on the line. I can't sit back and feel sorry for myself."

Despite his limitations, Embiid averaged 31.5 points through the first two games, albeit 20-of-51 from the field. The silver lining for Philadelphia is that his efficiency took a huge uptick in Game 3.

If Embiid's efficiency continues to trend up, we could be in for a long series.