How Did Joel Embiid Look in Return for Sixers vs. OKC Thunder?

Joel Embiid helped lead the Philadelphia 76ers to victory on Tuesday.

Apr 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

On Tuesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers welcomed the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder into the Wells Fargo Center, as they hoped to pull off a win despite the absence of their All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, who sat out due to tightness in his left hip.

While Maxey sat out, the bigger storyline surrounding the match was that of the return of reigning MVP Joel Embiid, who returned after being sidelined for 27 games following a corrective procedure on his meniscus which he injured in a match against the Golden State Warriors earlier on in the season.

Embiid’s return to action was something that had been talked about initially following his surgery, while being discussed heavily earlier on in the week, with his status being upgraded just ahead of tip-off on Tuesday night.

When it comes to the game itself, the Cameroonian superstar showed that he hasn’t slowed down an inch, managing to put up a team-high 12 points on 44 percent from the field, which includes a perfect four shots from the free throw line.

The reigning MVP’s offensive prowess didn’t just stop in the opening half, as he would help lead the SIxers through the second half, dropping an additional 12 points in the closing two quarters, ending his night with 24 points, which only trailed Kelly Oubre Jr, who would lead Philadelphia’s offense with 25 points.

Breaking down Embiid’s play itself, he looked to be back to his usual self, trying his luck on several occasions from the mid-range where he is usually lethal, while also testing his limits from beyond the arch, where he would fail to record a bucket.

One thing that may have surprised some about Embiid’s first game back was his time on the court, with the Cameroonian center spending 29 minutes on the court, which is five minutes down from what he was averaging prior to his injury. As a result of this, the 30-year-old could be seen winded and out of breath at different points throughout the match.

His fitness and time on the court will be something to watch in Philadelphia’s remaining six games, with their next match coming against the Miami Heat on Thursday night, a team in which Embiid usually enjoys his outings against, averaging 23 points and ten rebounds in his career against the South Beach side.

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