While Mathews has battled a "mystery illness" that has been worsened by being in the playoffs and William Nylander has missed 3 games due to migraine headaches, word comes today that Joel Embiid missed shoot around today due to migraines, and is questionable for basketball game 5 against the Knicks, which Embiid's 76ers trail 3-1. Embiid is under enormous pressure and stress as the team went 14-27 without him (not good) and needed him to score 50 points to win the only game they have taken from the Knicks.
The point is that the playoffs, whether hockey or basketball, are highly stressful for these athletes. And some athletes handle the stress better than others. Nylander and Matthews maybe not so well. Embiid I feel sorry for, because he is coming off a serious knee injury, has struggled at times physically, and is playing in pain. He manned up and scored 50 in game 3, only to be eclipsed in game 4 by Jalen Brunson's brilliant 47 point performance. While listening to the Knicks fans in Philly outnumbering the Philly fans, which is hurtful as well as stressful.
Will Matthews and Nylander rise for the occasion in Boston tonight as Brunson has for the Knicks? It's win or go home and play golf tonight, against a goalie who has the Leafs number. What will we see?