Embiid returns in peak form, even if he doesn’t agree
PHILADELPHIA » As they waited through nine games for his return from a bout with COVID and resulting protocols, the 76ers were convinced Joel Embiid would provide a welcome lift.
The only question: Would he return in top condition? Even in a 121-120 doubleovertime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, they had their positive answer Saturday.
Known for occasionally falling out of playing shape while recovering from injuries, Embiid was rarely stronger than he was Saturday, collecting 42 points and 14 rebounds in 45:26 of the highly intense game.
“He did his thing,” Tobias Harris said. “He was carrying us through the whole time, just getting his shots.
And his condition looked good out there as well.”
Though Doc Rivers, too, was encouraged by his strength, Embiid was not so sure.
“I am not even close to where I should be,” he said after his first game since Nov. 6. “But I am going to keep working hard to get back to where I was before.”
His boxscore line impressive, Embiid did make four turnovers and miss five of his 21 free throws.
“If we would have won, I think Joel would have taken 30 points,” said Rivers, “if you know what I mean.”
All situations considered, Embiid was thankful to return.
“That hit me hard,” he said. “I might have thought I wasn’t going to make it. I am just thankful to be sitting here. I was really struggling with it. But I am just glad I got over it.”
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After missing two games with a hip injury, Harris started, played 45:15 and registered 17 points and nine rebounds.
“I felt good out there,” he said. “Hopefully I will feel good tomorrow, too. It was a little bit of a process on the road, to see where I was. I was just grateful and glad that I could get out there and play more than 40 minutes today.”
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With Embiid out, there were opportunities for younger players. Paul Reed did not take advantage of that.
The second-year center had one start in that stretch, logging 23 minutes and scoring six points in a loss to Milwaukee. In his last game, Wednesday at Golden State, he was given just two minutes.
ver the nine games, he averaged 10.2 minutes and two points while gradually losing time to rookie Charles Bassey.
For that, among other reasons, Reed was sent to the G-League Delaware Blue Coats for a game Saturday afternoon, before being recalled in time for the 6 o’clock game against the Timberwolves.
“He just needs some playing time,” Rivers said. “He struggles in execution a lot and so we want to really put him through it and let him play more minutes and see if he can get through it.”
Reed collected 22 points and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes of the Coats’ 120-94 victory over Raptors 905.
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Even in defeat, the Sixers pulled off the play of the game with 2.1 seconds left in the first overtime.
With Tyrese Maxey at the
foul line down three, Rivers inserted Andre Drummond, lining him up across the lane from Embiid.
Maxey made the first free throw, cutting the deficit to two, then deliberately clanked the second.
With two Wolves boxing out Embiid, Drummond muscled Jarred Vanderbilt out of the way and tipped in the rebound to force a 113113 tie, effectively forcing the second overtime.
“We do the two bigs, Drum in there with Embiid,” Rivers said. “One will
get his hands on the ball. But it’s pot luck. You could do it 50 times and not miss the shot that well.”
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NOTES » Shake Milton was scratched with left-groin soreness. … Though still on a minutes restriction due to a lingering calf injury, Danny Green scored 11 points in 22 minutes... … The Sixers had a miniscrimmage Friday night and passed on a Saturday morning shootaround. Rivers: “The guys are still on West Coast time.”