Center Joel Embiid logged a season-high 30 minutes Sunday night, his first appearance in three weeks, finishing with 18 points and four rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Atlanta Hawks 127-124 in double overtime at Wells Fargo Center.
The reigning MVP candidate, sidelined since early November with a sore right knee, hit 6-of-14 from the field but sat out the second extra period. “It’s been almost a month, so tonight was about how I moved laterally and how I jumped,” Embiid said. “It was a good step.”
Sunday marked just his seventh game of the season. Philadelphia has limited the 31-year-old to 24.3 minutes per outing, during which he is averaging 19.4 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Edgecombe and George Return
Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, back after a three-game absence because of a calf strain, scored seven points in 21 minutes but did not play beyond regulation. Forward Paul George, appearing in his fifth game of the year, recorded 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five steals across 28 minutes. He sat out the second overtime due to what he described as mild back tightness.
“That was basically all they had tonight,” head coach Nick Nurse said when asked about the late-game rotations.
Barlow Earning Steady Minutes
Two-way forward Dominick Barlow, signed from Atlanta during the offseason, continues to hold a regular spot in Nurse’s rotation. Former Hawks coach Quin Snyder praised the 22-year-old’s feel for the game and ability to connect teammates, noting that such impact is uncommon for players on two-way contracts.
Trade Speculation Lingers
In a separate mailbag, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Keith Pompey explored whether the Sixers might eventually consider dealing Embiid or George, both of whom signed lucrative contracts last year and have battled injuries.
Source: Hoops Rumors
