After missing the last 15 games with a foot and knee injury, 76ers star center Joel Embiid made his return Tuesday night against the Mavericks, and he didn’t disappoint. Embiid, who scored the game-winning bucket, recorded his eighth career triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in 36 minutes of action as the 76ers defeated the Mavs 118-116 at Wells Fargo Center.
76ers head coach Nick Nurse discussed what he saw out of his star center.
“Obviously, played a lot of minutes, a triple-double, and I thought he made some key plays when we needed him to,” Nurse said. “Some of the stretches looked a little clunky, but I think we were able to get him out and get him back in the critical moments of the game, and he made some good plays.”
This season, Embiid has played in only 14 games for the 76ers, and he said the past few weeks have been a struggle.
“Extremely. But you gotta try to find a positive and …it’s not a lot [but] lean on those positive stuff like support, family, that can keep you up, keep you going, keep you motivated, he said. “But it’s tough. So, try to manage it, try to find the solution, and it just keeps happening. So, hopefully, it stops for good. Feel pretty good, but it can be unpredictable. Until I get… I haven’t really had time to really recover, so until I get that time, it could be like that. So, gotta just keep going, do the right things, take note of yourself, and hope for the best.”
When Embiid was injured, Tyrese Maxey, who had a team-high 33 points and 13 assists on Tuesday night, which is his career-high sixth consecutive 30-point game, and during this six-game stretch, Maxey is averaging 35.5 points on 54 percent shooting.
Embiid, who has a close relationship with Maxey, is impressed by his play.
“I said I’m proud of all those guys, but especially him,” Embiid said. “He’s been consistent, and they just finally figured it out, too. I think he’s taking that next step – [the] game is looking easy for him. Like I told him–that happened actually a lot today–I’m like, I know I just came back, but keep playing the same way you’ve been playing. Don’t mind [me]…let me be; I’m just here to help.”
The 76ers finish off their six-game homestand on Wednesday night against the Heat, and Embiid will not play.
Philadelphia has a lot of talent, and if they can get healthy, the 76ers can turn things around. Embiid says he’ll try his best to be available for his team.
“We’ve gotta be healthy and consistent for a long period of time,” he said. “We gotta get in…I feel like as long as we stay healthy, I think we have the potential to still accomplish what our goal is. [It’s] tough with the position that we’re in, but I’ve always believed that we can win no matter what. Just gotta get healthy and stay healthy. And that’s with all of us – be more consistent. But the one thing I’ll say is I’m just proud of all those guys. They’ve been fighting for the last couple of weeks. A lot of us, mainly me, have been out. I don’t want to be in that situation; I wish I could be more available; I wish I could help, but sometimes my body just does not allow it to happen. But I’m doing my best, and like I said I’m proud of all those guys, the intensity. And the coaches, they’ve been doing a great job with what they’ve got, and guys have been amazing. And down the road, I think that’s gonna help us a lot.”
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