Joel Embiid sends strong reminder to 76ers front office after epic comeback

In a chaotic time across the NBA landscape, Philadelphia 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid gave fans a sense of normalcy by returning to the hardwood for the first time since January 4. Many expected the 2023 Most Valuable Player to be rusty, but a turnaround baseline jumper over two defenders less than two minutes into the game silenced that notion.

The 76ers (20-29) edged out the Dallas Mavericks (26-25) 118-116 at Wells Fargo Center Tuesday night. Philadelphia snapped its two-game losing streak as Embiid notched a triple-double of 29 points on 12-23 shooting from the field, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists after missing 15 consecutive games.

With seven 76ers players sidelined, including star forward Paul George, Embiid didn’t have much room for error. He immediately returned to form as he connected on his first three attempts from the field, showcasing his unworldly mid-range scoring that 76ers fans have so desperately missed.

However, Dallas didn’t make things easy. The Mavericks aggressively deployed double teams every time Embiid caught the ball in the post. This strategy proved to be effective as Philadelphia didn’t have the proper shooting around him to make Dallas pay as it shot 11/33 (33.3%) from beyond the arc tonight. 

Joel Embiid showed what the 76ers desperately missed

Still, Embiid’s greatness wouldn’t be denied. He wittingly anticipated the double coverage and used it to create easy offense for his teammates. Embiid developed an excellent synergy with forward Guerschon Yabusele, who thrived as a back-door cutter. Ten of Yabusele’s 19 points were assisted by Embiid. 

Ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, the 76ers have been focused on dodging the luxury tax, likely to re-sign Yabusele with the non-tax-paper mid-level exception. In their limited time together, the Embiid/Yabusele pairing seems to be well worth the financial investment, especially after their performance tonight.

While the 76ers’ front-court showed great promise, Embiid’s presence was equally as impactful for guard Tyrese Maxey, who notched a double-double of 33 points and 13 assists. With Embiid on the floor, Maxey had less of an offensive burden, which made it easier for him to get to the rim. He and Embiid also shredded Dallas’ defense with dribble handoff actions.

Maxey has anchored Philadelphia’s offense during Embiid’s absence as tonight marked his sixth straight game with 30 or more points. Even with the offense primarily running through Embiid, Maxey’s aggressiveness never wavered. Tonight’s game presented a great formula – letting Maxey carry the scoring load while Embiid prioritizes playmaking. 

Embiid’s return served as a breath of fresh air for the 76ers and his triple-double performance is something to build off. However, the biggest concern is if he’ll be able to play for long periods as he has already been ruled out of Philadelphia’s game against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, Feb. 5th.