Joel Embiid made a triumphant return to the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup on Sunday, scoring 31 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 108–100 victory over the Chicago Bulls. This marked his first game back after sitting out the team’s previous seven games due to left knee management and personal reasons.
Before his return, Embiid’s last game was on Nov. 20, where he scored 35 points with 11 rebounds in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Philadelphia went 4–3 during his absence. Despite being listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, Embiid didn’t disappoint, putting up a stellar performance after a slow start.
Embiid’s presence in the paint proved crucial, as he provided much-needed interior defense and finished the game with two blocks. Tyrese Maxey also shined for the Sixers, recording a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists. Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 12 points each, while Jared McCain provided a solid performance off the bench.
On the Bulls’ side, Zach LaVine led with 30 points, while Nikola Vučević and Coby White added 13 points each. Ayo Dosunmu and Josh Giddey also made significant contributions for Chicago.
With this win, the 76ers secured their second consecutive victory and climbed out of the Eastern Conference cellar. They currently sit at 12th place with a record of 7–15. Philadelphia will have four days off for injury management before facing the Indiana Pacers on Friday.
Overall, Embiid’s return injected new energy into the Sixers’ lineup, setting the stage for an exciting push towards the playoffs.