Joel Embiid’s triumphant return fuels Sixers’ playoff push
The NBA world held its breath as Joel Embiid drove down the court in the final seconds of Tuesday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After being sidelined for eight weeks with a knee injury, the Philadelphia 76ers’ star center was finally back on the court.
As the sellout crowd at Wells Fargo Center rose to their feet, Sixers coach Nick Nurse couldn’t help but hold his breath. But Embiid, determined to make a statement in his return, swiped the ball from Thunder guard Josh Giddey and barreled towards the rim.
In a moment that perfectly encapsulated Embiid’s dominance, he collided with Thunder center Chet Holmgren, sending the rookie flying into the photographers behind the basket. Embiid calmly sank two free throws, securing a 109-105 victory for the Sixers.
It was an uneven performance for Embiid, who finished with 24 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in nearly 30 minutes on the court. But most importantly, he emerged unscathed from a health perspective, just as he did in Saturday’s 5-on-5 practice.
Now, with less than two weeks left in the regular season, the Sixers are close to becoming whole again. And as they make a push for a top seed in the Eastern Conference, Embiid’s return could have a major impact on the playoff race.
On the court, Embiid’s presence is undeniable. With him on the court this season, the Sixers have a top-two offense and defense in the league. But during his absence, they struggled, posting a negative net rating and dropping in the standings.
But with the addition of new players like Kyle Lowry, Buddy Hield, and Nicolas Batum, the Sixers have a revamped roster that could excel alongside Embiid. And with fellow All-Star Tyrese Maxey expected to return soon, the Sixers are poised to make a run to finish the season strong.
Their next test will be against the Miami Heat, a team they are currently chasing in the standings. A win on Thursday would not only give the Sixers a boost in the playoff race, but it would also send a message to the rest of the Eastern Conference contenders.
If the Sixers can continue to win and avoid the play-in tournament, they could potentially face the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round. And with Embiid back in
