Joel Embiid stepped back onto the court Sunday for the first time in three weeks, logging a season-high 30 minutes as he worked his way through his return.
According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, the Sixers star finished with 18 points and four rebounds on 6-of-14 shooting. Although Philadelphia ultimately fell to the Hawks in double overtime, the team opted to sit Embiid during the second extra period as they continue to carefully manage his right knee.
Embiid said he viewed the game less as a test of scoring touch and more as a chance to rebuild rhythm and movement.
“I thought the first half was pretty good,” he said. “When it’s been almost a month and you’ve only had about two court sessions, going up and down, it’s going to be tough. I’m just happy that I got a chance to play the game of basketball, build on it and go from there. … I don’t really judge myself based on shots falling. Tonight is all about how I moved laterally, jumping and all that stuff. Tonight was a good step towards that.”
This was only Embiid’s seventh game of the season as Philadelphia continues to avoid putting excessive pressure on the knee that cost him nearly all of last year.
Despite the limited availability, he has remained effective, averaging 19.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in just 24.3 minutes per game. Embiid was originally listed as out on Sunday, but his condition improved enough throughout the day for the team to upgrade him into the active lineup.
Sixers Notes: Embiid, Edgecombe, George, Barlow https://t.co/7QkNI4w8Jh pic.twitter.com/5VHtjhm28P
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 1, 2025
