It almost didn’t happen but Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid made his long-awaited return to the court on Tuesday night as the Sixers took down the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Finishing the contest with 24 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in 29 minutes, Embiid looked like he never left with his first shot attempt of the game. Drawing a double team in the midpost, the 7-footer rose over the defense and canned the jumper.
Embiid went 5-13 after that attempt due to the Thunder’s tight defense and rust.
However, even in just that moment, it’s easy to see why the Sixers find him so hard to replace. His scoring ability and the resulting gravity make life easier for his teammates. Indeed, Philadelphia got five 3-pointers off of Embiid’s assists last night.
This is particularly notable as the Sixers defeated the Thunder by a three-point margin and outscored OKC by three points on 3s.
Joel Embiid on Injury: ‘Took a Toll Mentally’
Following the game, Embiid spoke to reporters at his locker. Opening up about his mindset after being sidelined for two months, the seven-time All-Star says: “Usually when I have injuries I just tell myself you’re improving, onto the next one, get better… fix it.”
“But this one took a toll mentally,” he reveals. “Being depressed. It was not a good one. Still not where I’m supposed to be, especially mentally. But I just love to play.”
Joel Embiid said this absence affected him unlike any.
“When I have injuries I just tell myself onto the next one, get better, I’m gonna fix it. But this one took a toll mentally. Being depressed…Still not where I’m supposed to be, especially mentally. But I just love to play” pic.twitter.com/fQhEY4xzsx
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) April 3, 2024
“I love basketball and I want to play,” Embiid continues. “Any chance that I can be out there, I’m gonna take it.”
Embiid is averaging 35.0 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game this season. Physically, as he gets back into rhythm and game shape, he should return to posting similar numbers. Mentally, the hope will be that just playing competitive games period, and being in the proverbial basketball sanctuary should bring him joy.
Securing a Playoff Berth
At 41-35, the Sixers are eighth in the East. As a result, Philadelphia is on the path to a Play-In Tournament berth. A single-elimination tournament that gives ninth- and 10th-seeded teams an opportunity to reach the postseason, the Sixers would be best served by avoiding this scenario altogether.
However, time is running out for them to climb the East ladder. With six games remaining on their schedule, they’re 2.0 games behind the sixth-seeded Indiana Pacers. Only after leapfrogging them will Philadelphia guarantee its playoff berth.
