Joel Embiid scores 50 to get 76ers first win of series vs. Knicks - ESPN

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter, to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-114 win over the New York Knicks on Thursday night in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated «we're going to win this series» after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13-of-19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

Last season's NBA MVP, Embiid finally turned the crowd — which had a distinct New York flavor in South Philly — into one rocking for the home team. The All-Star center played more like a sharpshooting guard in the third, when he might have saved the season.

The Sixers pecked away at a three-point halftime deficit when Embiid got hot. He hit one 3 and then two more — the last two with assists from Tyrese Maxey — to give the Sixers an 82-72 lead. His fourth 3 pushed the lead to 98-85.

Not bad for a career 34% 3-point shooter.

Maxey added two 3s in the quarter and the 76ers went a whopping 9-of-12 from beyond the arc for 43 points.

After getting punished in New York, the Sixers pushed back.

Embiid's bulky left knee brace helped steady the 7-footer, who dealt with injuries all season. He mostly kept his cool and was in the mix on both ends of the court all game. Embiid had 17 points, three fouls and even grabbed Mitchell Robinson and dragged him to the court during a first half in which