Joel Embiid points tonight: 76ers big man’s 24 points on return leads them to victory vs hapless OKC

After undergoing surgery on his left meniscus, Philadelphia 76ers’ star player Joel Embiid made his highly anticipated return and was deemed ready to play against the OKC Thunder at game-time.

The 76ers mounted a comeback in the final quarter to secure a 108-105 victory against the Thunder on Tuesday night. Joel Embiid made an impressive comeback to the team, recording 24 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in only 29 minutes of game time.

He made 6 out of 14 shots from the field, shooting at a 42.9% accuracy. He also attempted 3 shots from a distance but did not make any, and impressively, he successfully made all 12 of his free throw attempts.

Despite the Sixers welcoming back the reigning MVP, Kelly Oubre Jr. proved to be the standout player of the game. He scored 25 points and displayed a dominant performance, particularly in the fourth quarter where he made a significant impact, shooting 8-of-16 from the field. Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey remained on the sidelines.

Joel Embiid’s Impact in the Philadelphia 76ers’ Victory over the OKC Thunder

The opening quarter saw the Philadelphia 76ers utilizing pick-and-roll plays involving Kyle Lowry and dribble-handoffs with Buddy Hield to initiate actions with Joel Embiid.

Despite their strategy shifting at the beginning of the second quarter, their isolation plays became less effective and they experienced a scoring drought of over three minutes before finally managing to score points.

In his comeback during the game, Embiid effortlessly assumed control, either putting the ball in the basket or assisting in the team’s final six points of the quarter. As a result, the Sixers were able to hold onto a slim three-point advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Despite their efforts, the Sixers struggled to keep up with the Thunder in the final moments of the quarter, resorting to relying heavily on the Hield/Joel dribble handoffs. This strategy ultimately led to Buddy Hield sinking his first 3-pointer of the night, but it was not enough to maintain pace with the Thunder.

Despite a slow start, Oklahoma City was able to make five of their last six shot attempts, resulting in a dominant 10-point lead by the end of the first half.

The match turned into a defensive showdown. For a period in the quarter, neither team managed to score for over two and a half minutes. Additionally, a combined total of 12 turnovers occurred in the third quarter, emphasizing the strong defensive effort and the difficulty in finding a consistent offensive flow.

In the game’s final possession, Embiid successfully stole the ball from Josh Giddey, resulting in two free throws for himself during the fast break. This crucial move was followed by the Thunder’s failure to make a 3-pointer on their next possession, despite former teammate Isaiah Joe’s efforts. This ultimately secured the victory for the Sixers.