Joel Embiid scores 24 points in his return from knee surgery. Sixers top Thunder 109-105
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Joel Embiid put Philadelphia ahead with four free throws in the final 40 seconds and finished with 24 points in his first game in nine weeks following knee surgery, leading the 76ers to a 109-105 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
Embiid added seven assists and six rebounds in nearly 30 minutes - but most important, he brought the confidence that the Sixers can salvage their season and make a postseason run with last season's MVP in the lineup.
Embiid was congratulated by Hall of Famer Allen Iverson after the game.
“I thought I was pretty bad," Embiid said. “I just understand. Usually when I come back from these things, I think 30, 40 (points), whatever it takes to get the win. This time, it's a little different. It's going to take me a while to get back to myself and really trust myself. As long as we win, I think my biggest impact is just being out there defensively.”
Chet Holmgren scored 22 points to lead the Thunder, who fell one-half game behind Denver for the top spot in the Western Conference. Minnesota moved into a tie with Oklahoma City.
The Sixers trailed by 11 points with 7:27 left before they went on a torrid run. Kelly Oubre Jr. hit a 3 that got the comeback rolling, and Embiid capped it off with a series of free throws. Embiid hit two for a 106-105 lead and added two more that made it 108-105. He made all 12 foul shots on the night.
Embiid sat exhausted on the scorer's table as the final seconds ticked off before he sauntered over to Iverson.
Oubre scored 25 points and Tobias Harris had 18.
Embiid was injured on Jan. 30 at Golden State. He had meniscus surgery on his left knee a week later, and the Sixers crashed in the East standings without him. They are currently eighth, 1 1/2 games behind Miami.
With a healthy Embiid, the 76ers at least have a better chance to win a series or two in the playoffs.
“He changes them significantly,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “They play a lot different stylistically when he’s in to where they have been lately in the last 30 games he’s been out or so. When he plays, it certainly changes their approach.”
The Thunder couldn't hold on in the fourth with All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out for the third time in four games with a quad injury. Jalen Williams (ankle) also sat out for the Thunder. All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey (hip) was inactive for the 76ers.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse was impressed by the state of the Thunder, in large part because of Gilgeous-Alexander’s play.
“I think they’ve got a lot of stuff,” Nurse said. “They’ve got an incredible superstar who’s as good as anybody in the league. They’ve got some other emerging superstars that are very good players. They play a system that they’re all in tune with.”
UP NEXT
Thunder: At Boston on Wednesday.
76ers: At Miami on Thursday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Chet Holmgren vs. Joel Embiid (Cameron Payne gains possession) | |||
11:40 | Kelly Oubre Jr. misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
11:37 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
11:26 | Kyle Lowry personal foul (Luguentz Dort draws the foul) | |||
11:19 | +3 | Chet Holmgren makes three point jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 3-0 | |
11:04 | Joel Embiid offensive foul (Charge) (Aaron Wiggins draws the foul) | |||
11:04 | Joel Embiid turnover (offensive foul) | |||
11:04 | 76ers 60 second timeout | |||
10:47 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point pullup jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 5-0 | |
10:37 | +3 | Tobias Harris makes three point pullup jump shot (Joel Embiid assists) | 5-3 | |
10:12 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving finger roll layup (Chet Holmgren assists) | 7-3 | |
10:00 | Cameron Payne misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:56 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
9:45 | Josh Giddey turnover (lost ball) (Joel Embiid steals) | |||
9:45 | Josh Giddey turnover (lost ball) (Joel Embiid steals) | |||
9:40 | Joel Embiid turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Wiggins steals) | |||
9:36 | +2 | Aaron Wiggins makes two point running finger roll layup (Jaylin Williams assists) | 9-3 | |
9:23 | Tobias Harris misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:19 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
9:13 | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
9:11 | 76ers defensive rebound | |||
9:11 | Josh Giddey personal foul (Loose ball) (Kelly Oubre Jr. draws the foul) | |||
8:56 | +2 | Joel Embiid makes two point jump shot | 9-5 | |
8:40 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point turnaround jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 11-5 | |
8:31 | Joel Embiid misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:28 | Cameron Payne offensive rebound | |||
8:24 | Tobias Harris misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
8:21 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
8:14 | Luguentz Dort misses two point cutting finger roll layup | |||
8:12 | Cameron Payne defensive rebound | |||
8:09 | +3 | Tobias Harris makes three point running jump shot (Cameron Payne assists) | 11-8 | |
7:48 | Josh Giddey misses three point jump shot | |||
7:46 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
7:39 | +3 | Chet Holmgren makes three point jump shot (Luguentz Dort assists) | 14-8 | |
7:16 | Aaron Wiggins blocks Paul Reed's two point turnaround hook shot | |||
7:12 | Cason Wallace defensive rebound | |||
7:08 | +2 | Aaron Wiggins makes two point driving layup (Josh Giddey assists) | 16-8 | |
6:54 | Kelly Oubre Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
6:51 | Paul Reed offensive rebound | |||
6:49 | +2 | Paul Reed makes two point hook shot | 16-10 | |
6:32 | Chet Holmgren misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
6:30 | Paul Reed defensive rebound | |||
6:14 | Tobias Harris turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Wiggins steals) | |||
6:06 | Luguentz Dort misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
6:03 | Cameron Payne defensive rebound | |||
5:47 | +2 | Paul Reed makes two point alley-oop layup (Kyle Lowry assists) | 16-12 | |
5:39 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
5:27 | Paul Reed blocks Cason Wallace's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
5:25 | Paul Reed defensive rebound | |||
5:24 | Paul Reed turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Wiggins steals) | |||
5:17 | Kelly Oubre Jr. personal foul (Luguentz Dort draws the foul) | |||
5:15 | Cason Wallace misses three point jump shot | |||
5:12 | Paul Reed defensive rebound | |||
4:59 | Kenrich Williams personal foul (Paul Reed draws the foul) | |||
4:44 | Kelly Oubre Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Kenrich Williams steals) | |||
4:39 | Cason Wallace turnover (lost ball) (Buddy Hield steals) | |||
4:34 | Buddy Hield misses two point running pullup jump shot | |||
4:31 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
4:26 | Aaron Wiggins misses three point running jump shot | |||
4:19 | Buddy Hield defensive rebound | |||
4:05 | Kelly Oubre Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
4:03 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
3:45 | Kenrich Williams misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:42 | Cameron Payne defensive rebound | |||
3:35 | +2 | Kelly Oubre Jr. makes two point cutting layup (Cameron Payne assists) | 16-14 | |
3:26 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point stepback jump shot | 18-14 | |
3:16 | +2 | Paul Reed makes two point reverse dunk (Cameron Payne assists) | 18-16 | |
2:57 | Mike Muscala misses three point jump shot | |||
2:55 | Paul Reed defensive rebound | |||
2:42 | Nicolas Batum misses three point jump shot | |||
2:39 | Cason Wallace defensive rebound | |||
2:24 | Gordon Hayward misses three point jump shot | |||
2:20 | Paul Reed defensive rebound | |||
2:12 | +3 | Cameron Payne makes three point pullup jump shot | 18-19 | |
2:00 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point driving layup | 20-19 | |
1:46 | Cameron Payne misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:40 | Isaiah Joe defensive rebound | |||
1:31 | Isaiah Joe misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
1:26 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
1:19 | +2 | Joel Embiid makes two point jump shot (Kyle Lowry assists) | 20-21 | |
1:02 | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
0:58 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
0:49 | Jaylin Williams shooting foul (Joel Embiid draws the foul) | |||
0:49 | +1 | Joel Embiid makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-22 | |
0:49 | +1 | Joel Embiid makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-23 | |
0:33 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point stepback jump shot | 22-23 | |
0:24 | +2 | Buddy Hield makes two point pullup jump shot (Joel Embiid assists) | 22-25 | |
0:04 | Buddy Hield personal foul (Kenrich Williams draws the foul) | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:46 | Buddy Hield kicked ball violation | |||
11:35 | Lindy Waters III misses three point jump shot | |||
11:32 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
11:11 | Joel Embiid misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
11:08 | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | |||
10:56 | Chet Holmgren misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:54 | Nicolas Batum defensive rebound | |||
10:47 | Isaiah Joe blocks Buddy Hield's three point jump shot | |||
10:43 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
10:41 | Nicolas Batum personal foul (Chet Holmgren draws the foul) | |||
10:32 | +2 | Jaylin Williams makes two point floating jump shot (Isaiah Joe assists) | 24-25 | |
10:13 | Joel Embiid misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:10 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
9:56 | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point pullup jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 26-25 | |
9:35 | Tobias Harris misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:33 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
9:25 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
9:20 | Lindy Waters III offensive rebound | |||
9:15 | Isaiah Joe misses three point jump shot | |||
9:11 | Lindy Waters III offensive rebound | |||
9:02 | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
8:58 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
8:52 | +2 | Joel Embiid makes two point running layup (Tobias Harris assists) | 26-27 | |
8:37 | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point jump shot (Gordon Hayward assists) | 29-27 | |
8:19 | +2 | Kelly Oubre Jr. makes two point layup (Nicolas Batum assists) | 29-29 | |
8:02 | +2 | Lindy Waters III makes two point jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 31-29 | |
7:51 | +3 | Tobias Harris makes three point jump shot (Joel Embiid assists) | 31-32 | |
7:33 | +2 | Jaylin Williams makes two point floating jump shot (Isaiah Joe assists) | 33-32 | |
7:20 | Joel Embiid misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:18 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
7:09 | Isaiah Joe misses three point jump shot | |||
7:06 | Kelly Oubre Jr. defensive rebound | |||
6:57 | Joel Embiid misses three point jump shot | |||
6:55 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
6:50 | Lindy Waters III misses three point running jump shot | |||
6:47 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
6:43 | 76ers 60 second timeout | |||
6:33 | +3 | Cameron Payne makes three point jump shot (Kelly Oubre Jr. assists) | 33-35 | |
6:13 | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point cutting layup (Luguentz Dort assists) | 35-35 | |
5:54 | Kelly Oubre Jr. misses two point driving layup | |||
5:51 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
5:50 | Cameron Payne shooting foul (Aaron Wiggins draws the foul) | |||
5:50 | +1 | Aaron Wiggins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-35 | |
5:50 | +1 | Aaron Wiggins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-35 | |
5:32 | Tobias Harris misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
5:30 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
5:17 | +2 | Luguentz Dort makes two point driving layup (Josh Giddey assists) | 39-35 | |
5:05 | Cameron Payne misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
5:02 | Mike Muscala defensive rebound | |||
4:56 | Aaron Wiggins misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
4:54 | Paul Reed defensive rebound | |||
4:41 | Kelly Oubre Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
4:37 | Luguentz Dort defensive rebound | |||
4:17 | Luguentz Dort misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:14 | Cameron Payne defensive rebound | |||
4:07 | Lindy Waters III blocks Cameron Payne's two point driving layup | |||
4:07 | Thunder defensive rebound | |||
3:48 | Tobias Harris blocks Cason Wallace's two point driving layup | |||
3:47 | Cason Wallace offensive rebound | |||
3:46 | Cason Wallace misses two point reverse layup | |||
3:46 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
3:41 | +2 | KJ Martin makes two point running reverse layup (Tobias Harris assists) | 39-37 | |
3:20 | Tobias Harris shooting foul (Aaron Wiggins draws the foul) | |||
3:20 | +1 | Aaron Wiggins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-37 | |
3:20 | +1 | Aaron Wiggins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 41-37 | |
3:11 | Jaylin Williams shooting foul (Joel Embiid draws the foul) | |||
3:11 | +1 | Joel Embiid makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 41-38 | |
3:11 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
3:11 | +1 | Joel Embiid makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 41-39 | |
3:01 | Nicolas Batum blocks Aaron Wiggins's three point jump shot | |||
3:00 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
2:44 | +2 | Aaron Wiggins makes two point reverse layup (Isaiah Joe assists) | 43-39 | |
2:27 | Buddy Hield turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
2:05 | +2 | Josh Giddey makes two point driving floating jump shot (Isaiah Joe assists) | 45-39 | |
1:45 | Nicolas Batum misses three point jump shot | |||
1:42 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
1:36 | +3 | Luguentz Dort makes three point jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 48-39 | |
1:13 | +2 | Joel Embiid makes two point stepback jump shot | 48-41 | |
0:50 | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point stepback jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 51-41 | |
0:43 | +3 | Buddy Hield makes three point pullup jump shot (Joel Embiid assists) | 51-44 | |
0:30 | +3 | Isaiah Joe makes three point pullup jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 54-44 | |
0:05 | Nicolas Batum misses three point jump shot | |||
0:04 | Buddy Hield offensive rebound | |||
0:04 | 76ers turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
0:01 |