76ers’ Joel Embiid Scores 24, Gets Praise from NBA Fans in Injury Return vs. Thunder

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVApril 3, 2024

David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Welcome back, Joel Embiid.

The Philadelphia 76ers superstar center returned from his two-month layoff due to a knee injury on Tuesday night and looked primed for a potential playoff run, posting 24 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals across 29 minutes during Philly’s 109-105 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

NBA on TNT @NBAonTNTThe first bucket back in action for Embiid 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jnGX9BKPsz

Kelly Oubre Jr. led all scorers with 25 points, but this was Embiid’s night.

It was an impressive display from the defending MVP, who was clearly gassed late in the fourth quarter but came up with several key plays on both ends of the court to seal the win.

NBA @NBAEmbiid with the clutch steal and gets to the line 💪

PHI leads 108-105 after the FTs… 25 seconds left on TNT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/TNzMoxjwY8

John Clark @JClarkNBCSMVP chants for Joel Embiid as he gives the Sixers the lead with 38 seconds left pic.twitter.com/bhIT06jaJk

It will take Embiid some time to get back into full playing shape, but for a Sixers team that has absolutely floundered without him, his presence in the lineup—especially because he looked to be spry and healthy against the Thunder—was huge.

And fans and pundits alike were happy to see him back:

Liberty Ballers @Liberty_BallersEMBIID IS BACK. SIXERS WIN. pic.twitter.com/9P949vXBb1

Andrew Brandt @AndrewBrandtSixers beat the Thunder. Our prince has returned. #Embiid

Shea Serrano @SheaSerranofirst game back and the sixers get a win over the no. 1 seed 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

i have missed joel embiid so much

Sixers Nation @PHLSixersNationEmbiid: This injury was by far the hardest. Especially mentally.

Can’t appreciate this guy enough for the heart he has for the game.

Jawn Gonzalez @JohnGonzalezNot sure who’s more exhausted – Embiid or everyone who just watched that. Amazing performance. Need a smoke an a nap

Joe DeCamara @JoeDeCamaraGreat job by Embiid. Playing + playing well + playing as many minutes as he did + getting the win = a good night for the Sixers & Philly sports fans. And the Phils won. Excellent night.

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeckClearly going to take Embiid some time to get his legs under him but he immediately fell into a comfortable pick-and-roll partnership with Lowry, so that’s a great early positive

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBAJoel Embiid often looks rusty at the start of seasons, and the same is true tonight. 5-11 with 5 TOs and 7 ast. Good thing he’s coming back with enough time to find his footing.

Hardwood Paroxysm @HPbasketballThat Embiid jumper will be back to clean by next week.

The Sixers are now 27-8 when Embiid plays this season, and the team isn’t back to full strength yet, as the trio of Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton and Robert Covington all missed Tuesday’s game.

A healthy Sixers team has a chance to make some noise in the playoffs should they qualify. At 41-35, Philly still sits two games back of the Indiana Pacers in the race for the sixth seed and one game behind the Miami Heat, and likely will need to advance out of the Play-In Tournament to earn a postseason berth.

The return of Embiid makes them far more likely to do just that. It was quite the night in Philly, as Embiid’s return coincided with Bryce Harper hitting three home runs—including a grand slam—for the Philadelphia Phillies.

To paraphrase the great Stringer Bell—put the word out there that Philly sports back up.