Philadelphia 76ers Center Joel Embiid returned to the court on Tuesday night after an extended absence and showed no signs of rust. The former MVP had been sidelined since January 4 with a foot sprain and left knee injury management. He played 36 minutes last night which tied his season high. Embiid lit up the Dallas Mavericks’ defense for 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. It was a historic return for the Philadelphia 76ers star.
Embiid is the first player in NBA history to miss 15+ straight games and notch a triple-double in his return to the hardwood. He is 7-1 in his last 8 games, but his appearances are few and far between. When Embiid is healthy enough to suit up, he has played well. He is averaging 24.7 points per game and 8.1 rebounds. Embiid would be 14th in points per game if he played enough games to qualify. Will Embiid be able to stay healthy as the Philadelphia 76ers look to get on track?
Philadelphia 76ers Season Summary
Joel Embiid of the @sixers is the first player in NBA history to miss 15+ straight games (reg or post) and then have a triple-double in his return. pic.twitter.com/oRIT8MbNsX
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) February 5, 2025
The Sixers are always upended by injuries, and the 2024-2025 season has been no different. Embiid has only played in 14 of a possible 49 games and Paul George has also been bitten by the injury bug this year. He has already missed 19 games and is having a down year across the board.
These injury issues have impacted the Philadelphia 76ers in the standings. They are 20-29 and one game out of the NBA Play-In Tournament. Philly is 25th in points per game, 21st in field goal percentage, and the worst rebounding league in the National Basketball Association. All-Star Guard Tyrese Maxey has tried to keep the team afloat, but he needs help from fellow stars Embiid and George to hold up their end of the bargain. Maxey is fourth in points per game and 16th in assists.
Final Thoughts
Embiid has already been ruled out for tonight’s home game against the Miami Heat. The center never plays back-to-back games, and that is still the case. Even though Embiid played well on Tuesday, he cannot be counted on for the Philadelphia 76ers. Hopefully, Embiid will be able to return to the court when the 76ers visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
