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NBA Briefs | Joel Embiid trolls Jeopardy fail, Luka Doncic wins Zion battle, Terrence Ross’ bizarre stat line

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is the king of NBA Twitter and he has proven it once again, rubbing in a wrong answer on US game show Jeopardy.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
4 min read
March 5, 2020 - 8:10PM
What else does Embiid need to do to make sure his nickname is remembered.
What else does Embiid need to do to make sure his nickname is remembered.

Joel Embiid is one of the biggest names in the NBA right now but one contestant on US game show Jeopardy has butchered the star’s famous nickname.

Embiid was taken with the third pick of the 2014 NBA Draft and has since gone on to become a three-time All-Star and one of the stars of the league.

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While his 2020 output has been hampered by injuries and questions over whether he and Ben Simmons will be able to bring the Philadelphia 76ers a championship, he's still one of the most recognisable names in the league.

And the 25-year-old Cameroonian has a famous story which established his nickname — “The Process”.

But not everyone appears to know that, with Embiid trolling a Jeopardy contestant who picked the category “current sports nicknames” for $1000 and got the answer “Joel Embiid in 2019 won the trademark for this nickname of his that also describes the 76ers’ strategy of improving the team”.

Contestant Paul answered “What is Do a 180?”

It was wrong and Embiid had fun with the answer.

He changed his Twitter name to Joel “Do a 180” Embiid??? and posted a brilliant response.

Fans loved the new moniker.

Last year, Embiid was granted the trademark for “The Process” and can now profit off the nickname.

It comes after former Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie used to say “Trust the Process” as the side traded stars for bit players as the team tried to tank to earn generational talent in the draft.

The Sixers’ even traded their only All-Star at the time, Jrue Holiday, on the night of Hinkie’s first draft night.

When Embiid was called up with the third pick of the 2014, it was hoped he would turn around the side’s fortunes and make them a contender as he was announced as Joel “The Process” Embiid when he debuted.

Embiid didn’t get on the court until the 2016/17 season, and when Ben Simmons was the first pick of the 2016 Draft, it’s made the side perennial finalists without going the next level to a championship.

ALL-TIME RECORD SHATTERED BY YOUNGSTER

It was Zion Vs Luka in a battle of the NBA future.
It was Zion Vs Luka in a battle of the NBA future.

Just five days after his 21st birthday, Luka Doncic continued to etch his name in the Dallas Mavericks’ record book.

And in his first matchup against fellow young star Zion Williamson, Doncic got the last word – and the win.

The second-year star scored 30 points and broke Jason Kidd’s franchise record for career triple-doubles with his 22nd, helping the Mavericks hold off the New Orleans Pelicans 127-123 in overtime Wednesday night.

Doncic had 17 rebounds and 10 assists, and his three with 1:10 to play in overtime snapped a 118-118 tie and gave the Mavericks the lead for good.

And he did it with a nagging thumb injury that required X-rays after the game.

“It hurts, but you’ve got to get through it,” Doncic said.

“You’re probably going to get hit every game, almost every game, so you’ve just got to fight through it.”

Kristaps Porzingis had 34 points and 12 rebounds for Dallas, and his dunk off a feed from Doncic gave Dallas a 123-119 lead — and gave Doncic his triple-double.

Williamson scored 21 points in 35 minutes while playing back-to-back games for the first time in his young NBA career.

He has scored double figures in all 17 games he’s played in and has 20 points or more in his last 13.

“I think my game is progressing,” Williamson said.

“Still getting my legs under me, just learning the game. The NBA, these are the best players in the world. They’re smart. They have high IQs for the game. They have scouting reports, so I think it’s just bringing something new to the table every game.”

— AP

STAR’S INCREDIBLE BOX SCORE

Orlando Magic guard Terrence Ross had a huge game.
Orlando Magic guard Terrence Ross had a huge game.

The Orlando Magic’s Terrence Ross has had a season-high 35 points in his side’s 116-113 loss to the Miami Heat but fans quickly noticed a bizarre aspect of his game on the day.

He hit eight three-pointers in a great performance as three rained down from both team, with Miami having a record night with 22 shots from downtown.

But Ross had an odd night with 0 rebounds and 0 assists. In fact, the only other stat lines he had trouble was for his one turnover and two personal fouls.

But it also wasn’t enough as the Heat claimed the win.

Goran Dragic scored 25 points and added nine assists, Kelly Olynyk scored 16 on a perfect shooting night and Jimmy Butler finished with 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as Miami won its fourth straight.

The Magic have dropped three straight yet remain in the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The game became just the second in NBA regular-season history where two players made at least eight 3-pointers, after January 5, 2019 when Stephen Curry made 10 for Golden State and Buddy Hield made eight for Sacramento.

It has also happened once in a playoff game, when Draymond Green and Damian Lillard both made eight in a Golden State-Portland matchup on May 7, 2016.

— with AP

Originally published as NBA Briefs | Joel Embiid trolls Jeopardy fail, Luka Doncic wins Zion battle, Terrence Ross’ bizarre stat line

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/us-sports/nba/nba-briefs-joel-embiid-trolls-jeopardy-fail-luka-doncic-wins-zion-battle-terrence-ross-bizarre-stat-line/news-story/be4ce2aafd6e3c05da9b06874c14565c