It did not take long for Joel Embiid to get back into the swing of things. He returned to the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup after sitting out one game due to a sinus fracture. Donning a protective mask, Richard Hamilton style, he dominated, putting up 34 points in Friday’s 108-98 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Embiid also dished out nine helpers with five rebounds in 25 minutes of playing time.
Embiid suffered a sinus fracture last Friday in a game against the Indiana Pacers when he was accidently hit in the face by Bennedict Mathurin. The 76ers said on Monday that he would be re-evaluated in one week.
But just four days later, Embiid was back in the fold ready to go alongside his teammates. Due to a fortunate light stretch in Philadelphia’s schedule, he only missed one game, Monday’s 121-108 win over the Hornets, with the injury.
Embiid made his presence known early and often against a much smaller opponent, scoring eight of Philadelphia’s first 14 points as the Sixers took a commanding 18-point lead, 41-23, at the end of the first quarter.
However, that blazing hot streak could not last forever and the 76ers eventually came back down to earth while the Hornets made dents in the big deficit. With eight minutes remaining in the game, the Hornets sliced Philadelphia’s lead to six, 89-83. But big-time players make big time plays. Embiid put the team on his back, knocking down three straight baskets helping the Sixers extend their lead.
It was a rare sight to behold. Friday’s contest was only the fourth time this season in which Philly’s “Big Three” of Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey played together. The Sixers posted a record of 1-2 in those previous three games.
Embed from Getty ImagesMaxey scored 23 points with four rebounds and six assists. George only scored five points, but did other things, with 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals in his 33 minutes. Kelly Oubre Jr. stepped up and was Philadelphia’s third 20-point scorer with 22 points, shooting 4-for-6 from 3-point range.
Vasilije Micic led the Hornets with 20 points, followed by 15 points and seven boards from Miles Bridges. Brandon Miller was on the shelf for the second straight game with a sprained left ankle suffered in Monday’s game versus Philadelphia. They lost their fourth consecutive game and have lost for the 12th time in 13 games.
LaMelo Ball sat out as the Hornets manage his injured left calf. The Hornets are taking a cautious approach with how they handle Ball, who showed up and showed out with 34 points and 13 assists a night earlier in a loss to the Washington Wizards.
Up next for the 76ers is a Saturday night matchup with Donovan Mitchell and the NBA-best Cleveland Cavaliers, who defeated the NBA Cup champion Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, 124-101. Damian Lillard did not play for the Bucks due to a right calf strain. Embiid will not be suiting up.
Charlotte hosts Fred VanVleet and the Houston Rockets on Monday.
