Sixers center Joel Embiid made his season debut on Tuesday and had an up-and-down showing in his first game back, scoring just 13 points on 2-of-11 shooting in 26 minutes in a loss to the Knicks. Embiid, who was sidelined due to a left knee issue and a three-game suspension for shoving a reporter, is confident that he’ll round into his usual form as he plays more, as Tim Bontemps of ESPN relays.
“It’s all about confidence and trusting myself,” Embiid said of returning from his knee injury. “Pushing off … I talked about it a couple weeks ago when I talked to you guys, that’s the mental hurdle that I got to get to. But I think I can still be pretty good even without that, which I’m going to get to at some point. I don’t know when. Might be next game, might be in two games … (but) usually get it back pretty fast, so I’m fine.”
The 76ers’ 2-8 record through 10 games is tied for the second-worst mark in the NBA, but with Embiid and Paul George back in action, the team is trending in the right direction from a health perspective. Embiid is looking forward to Tyrese Maxey‘s return from a hamstring strain, which will allow Philadelphia’s big three to play together for the first time.
“I think it’s all about us just getting on the floor together, learning how to play with each other,” Embiid said. “But health is a big thing. I’m back, PG is feeling pretty good, now we need to get Tyrese back, and once we’re all on the floor, I think we’re going to have a pretty good chance to win some games.”
Here’s more on the Sixers:
- The Sixers and Embiid both indicated during training camp that the plan would be for him to sit one game in back-to-back sets this season in order to ensure he’s as healthy as possible for the playoffs. However, Embiid said after Tuesday’s game that he’d lobby the team to let him suit up for Wednesday’s matchup with the undefeated Cavaliers. “I know I said I will never play back-to-backs, but I’m a troll,” Embiid said with a smile, per Bontemps. The decision will ultimately be made by the club’s medical staff, Bontemps notes.
[UPDATE: Both Embiid and George have been ruled out for Wednesday’s game vs. the Cavaliers due to knee injury management.] - While Embiid struggled individually in his return to action, his presence made things easier for George, who had 29 points and 10 rebounds (both season highs) in his best game so far as a Sixer. “He just opens the floor up so much,” George said, according to Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “So it was a lot for me to take away from this game on how I can free myself up even more, and how I can try to help him get into a rhythm and free himself up even more.” George added that he feels like his conditioning is improving following his own early-season injury absence. He has played over 32 minutes in each of his past two games after averaging 26.7 MPG in his first three outings.
- After playing a modest role in the Sixers’ rotation to open the season, rookie Jared McCain has logged 30-plus minutes in each of his past three appearances, averaging 22.7 points per game on .451/.407/1.000 shooting during that stretch. Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (subscriber link) takes a closer look at why McCain, who struggled in Summer League, is having success and what the team should expect from him going forward.