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PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid went quickly off the dribble. He left his defenders in the dust.

The move, made in the Philadelphia 76ers’ Sunday night’s defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, was eye-opening because it’s the kind of explosive first step that has evaded him for much of this season. The star center gained separation from his defender in one dribble, looked up and found himself with an uncontested dunk. Instead, Embiid laid the ball up with his left hand.

It rimmed out. The Lakers got the rebound and went the other way. Embiid, staring at the hoop in disbelief, threw his hands into the air in frustration.

“Every shot felt like

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