Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid put up 29 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and a steal in his return from a 15-game injury absence on Tuesday, leading his team to a 118-116 win over the Dallas Mavericks . Embiid played 36 minutes, a season-high, and made 12 of his 23 field goal attempts. He also shot 4 for 9 from the free-throw line, but given how well he played -- especially in comparison to his previous returns from extended absences -- the Sixers likely aren't too worried about that.
Embiid's biggest bucket of the night was a go-ahead layup with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter: JOEL EMBIID. pic.twitter.
com/d6z6WX1LCZ Generally speaking, Embiid looked comfortable, confident and light on his feet. A two-point win against a severely shorthanded Mavericks team -- they were missing the newly acquired Anthony Davis and Caleb Martin , plus Dereck Lively II , PJ Washington and Dwight Powell -- is normally not cause for celebration, but Embiid basically looking like himself is. And given how this season has gone, Philadelphia will take any win it can get.
1 v 1 đŽâđ¨ pic.twitter.com/0HU1GELhZ6 Will Embiid be able to stay on the floor? This was the Sixers' 49th game, and it was Embiid's 14th appearance.
His 15th won't come until they visit Detroit on Friday, as coach Nick Nurse told reporters postgame ( via PHLY's Derek Bodner ) that the big man will be out when they host the Miami Heat on Wednesday, as it is the second night of a back-to-back. Embiid had been sidelin.
