After a brief four-game absence due to a mid-foot sprain, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid returned to the court, picking up where he left off with a convincing two-way performance in a 104-101 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. He finished with 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals, prompting a nod from teammate James Harden, who remains out with his foot injury.
“Yeah Joel!” Harden tweeted.
Yeah Joel!
Embiid’s Dominant Closing Effort
It took Embiid a little while to find his stride, but his impact was greatly felt when it mattered most. He scored the Sixers’ final 11 points of the game, shooting 2-of-3 from the field and 7-of-8 at the free-throw line. The most notable basket came with 18.6 seconds remaining with the Sixers trailing by one. Embiid received the ball off an angle pick-and-roll with Shake Milton before navigating to his spot in the paint and dropping a short jumper that hardly moved the net.
Joel Embiid gives the @sixers a 1-point lead late!
18.6 remaining in Q4 on NBA League Pass
t.co/kv8oudlxUm
Following the sequence, Embiid put forth an equally impressive performance on the defensive end. Much of the Atlanta offense is reliant on Trae Young’s throwing lobs to the Hawks’ big men, and the Hawks went back to this well in need of a basket to take the lead. But Embiid was prepared. He perfectly split the distance in order to provide help on Young and made a game-winning play by intercepting Young’s lob.
OH MY GOODNESS JOEL
Embiid was criticized earlier this season for not appearing locked in on defense. Against the Hawks, though, he challenged them throughout the game. Speaking to the media after the game, he described his steal of Young’s lob as a “cat-and-mouse game.”
“I just tried to play [a] cat-and-mouse game. I had him thinking he had a wide-open lob,” Embiid said, per The Athletic’s Rich Hofmann. “I was trying to bait him and it did work.”
Joel Embiid with a detailed description of the late steal against Trae Young: “I just tried to play cat-and-mouse game, had him thinking he a wide-open lob… I was trying to bait him and it did work. In some instances, it doesn’t.”
Embiid’s Playmaking Growth
Another notable takeaway from the game was Embiid’s conscious effort to get others involved. At times this season, the Sixers have been too reliant on “hero ball” rather than playing team basketball. This was pointed out during the absence of the Sixers’ three stars in which the ball movement looked much better. During the four games in which Tyrese Maxey, Harden and Embiid were out, the Sixers ranked ninth in the NBA in passes per game. In the previous 16 games, they ranked 21st.
Following the victory, Embiid said he made a conscious effort to keep this ball movement going.
“Lately they have been moving the ball. They’ve been making shots and we have been playing great defense, so I just wanted to come in and fit in and try to make sure everyone keeps doing what they’ve been doing. Because they have been doing a great job,” Embiid said, per Heavy’s Michael Greger.
Joel Embiid discusses his return and hie he’s feeling. He made a concerted effort to get his teammates involved early vs. Atlanta. #Sixers #HereTheyCome #Hawks
The growth in the team-centric style of play will be a storyline to monitor. Getting Embiid back on the court was the first step toward the team getting healthy, but Harden and Maxey still must make their returns. The Sixers have rebounded from their slow start and now sit at 12-9 on the season, which moved them up to fifth place in the Eastern Conference. They have now won three consecutive games and seven of their last nine overall.
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James Harden Reacts to Joel Embiid’s Dominant Two-Way Effort