Sixers center Joel Embiid played a season-high 30 minutes as he returned to the court Sunday night for the first time in three weeks, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Embiid finished with 18 points and four rebounds while shooting 6-of-14 from the field, but he was held out of the second overtime as Philadelphia lost to the Hawks.
“I thought the first half was pretty good,” he said. “When it’s been almost a month and you’ve only had about two court sessions, going up and down, it’s going to be tough. I’m just happy that I got a chance to play the game of basketball, build on it and go from there. … I don’t really judge myself based on shots falling. Tonight is all about how I moved laterally, jumping and all that stuff. Tonight was a good step towards that.”
It was only the seventh game of the season for Embiid as the Sixers have been cautious about putting too much strain on the injured left knee that forced him to miss most of last season, while he has also dealt with right knee soreness. He was originally listed as unavailable for Sunday’s contest, but his condition was upgraded throughout the day. Embiid has been effective in his limited appearances, averaging 19.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per night.
Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe also returned Sunday after missing the past three games with a calf issue, Bontemps adds. He scored seven points in 21 minutes, but wasn’t used after regulation, while Paul George, who was playing for just the fifth time this season, was held out of the second overtime.
“That was just kind of about as much as they had, to be honest,” coach Nick Nurse told reporters.
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- George said he felt some back tightness during the game, but he didn’t appear worried (Twitter video link from PHLY Sixers). He finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five steals in 28 minutes. “But that’s gonna happen,” he said of the back issue. “That was the most minutes I’ve played consecutively. It’s good. It’s nothing to be concerned with. I felt good. I asked for more minutes out there, just how the game was going, how my body was feeling. I think I’m the bird, leaving the nest, getting to fly and flap my wings a little bit more. It feels good to kinda be on the healthy side.”
- Former Hawks forward Dominick Barlow is getting consistent rotation minutes for the first time in his career after signing a two-way contract with the Sixers over the summer. He was on a two-way deal with Atlanta last season, and his ex-coach, Quin Snyder, isn’t surprised by his level of success, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). “He really knows how to play,” Snyder said. “And he gave us, in a stretch where we really needed someone to come in and not only give us good minutes, but kind of connect as a team. And I think it’s unusual for a player in (a two-way) position to have that kind of impact on the group. … He’s got a great feel for the game, can pass, handle, just a smart player. Very committed to helping the team in any way he can.”
- In a mailbag column, Pompey examines the possibility of trading George or Embiid, who’ve both dealt with significant injuries since signing hefty contracts last year.
Trade Embiid. I can’t tell if his stock is going to drop or rise but and legitimate offer should be considered. A team led by Maxey is more likely to succeed than one led by Embiid at this point.
No one is bailing the Sixers out in that contract.
Their only chance is medical retirement, but for that Embid must agree upon and league must approve. So unless he suffers another surgery required injury, you are stuck with him.
Embiid is going to be limited for the rest of his career and he and the team know that. That’s why Maxey is still the first option even when Embiid plays. Their defense is much better though when he has played so the hope is to probably limit his playing time during the regular season then hopefully he will be more available during the playoffs.
Meanwhile. Maxey played 52:18, including every minute of both OT’s.
Even Nurse has to be feeling guilty about how many minutes he’s played Maxey so far.
The real question is why would you do it. Where are the Sixers going this year. No one in NBA should play more than 36 mins a gm.
I saw that Maxey has played the most min/gm since Monta Ellis and Gerald Wallace in 2009, avging 40.7/gm.
My guess is that Nurse is desperate to keep his job.
Yeah … I hear ya man. I just hope no one gets hurt.
VJ as a 19 yr old is avg 36.4 mins. Only reason to push players mins. Is to make the playoffs. We are 20 gms in.