2023 NBA MVP winner, Joel Embiid, returned to play following a long injury and immediately led the Philadelphia 76ers to beat the first ranked team in the Western Conference, Oklahoma City Thunder, 109-105 in a match at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday (3/4) WIB.
Embiid put the Sixers ahead with four free throws in the final 40 seconds and finished with 24 points following missing nine weeks to recover from knee surgery.
Embiid added 7 assists and 6 rebounds while appearing for almost 30 minutes.
Embiid’s return brings confidence that the Sixers can salvage their season and go into postseason contention with last season’s MVP on the squad.
“He changed the game significantly,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
“They play with a very different style when he (Embiid) plays, compared to the last 30 games without him. When he plays, of course it changes their approach,” he continued.
Also read: Joel Embiid still wants to play once more this season
Embiid suffered the injury on January 30 once morest the Golden State Warriors. He underwent meniscus surgery on his left knee a week later and the Sixers slumped in the Eastern Conference standings without their star.
The Sixers, who finished in third place last season in the regular season, are now down in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
They are in the play-in zone or qualifying round before the play-off round. Two games behind the Indiana Pacers who are in the play-off final zone in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Also read: Joel Embiid, NBA MVP winner, will undergo knee surgery
With Embiid fit, the Sixers at least have a better chance of winning a series or two in the playoffs.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scores one more than Embiid, namely 25 points for the Sixers. Tobias Harris added 18 points, Paul Reed 12, and Cameron Payne had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Chet Holmgren scored 22 points to lead the Thunder, who are neck and neck with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets for top spot in the Western Conference.
Also read: Score 70 points, Joel Embiid brings Philadelphia 76ers to beat San Antonio Spurs
The Thunder, Timberwolves and Nuggets are in first, second and third place respectively in the Western Conference with the same record, namely 52 wins and 23 losses.
The Thunder, who played without star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the last three games, were helped by Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins who both scored 15 points, Isaiah Joe 14 points and Josh Giddey 10 points.
Next, the Thunder will face a tough test by facing the best NBA team in 2024, namely the Boston Celtics, tomorrow, and the Sixers once morest the Miami Heat on Friday (5/4). (Ant/Z-1)
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