LOS ANGELES – Joel Embiid overcame a “mental toll” to make a dazzling return from a two-month injury layoff and inspire the Philadelphia 76ers to an upset 109-105 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2.
The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) reigning Most Valuable Player was a surprise late inclusion in the Sixers’ starting line-up at the Wells Fargo Centre, returning to the hardwood after suffering a knee injury in a defeat by the Golden State Warriors on Jan 30.
In Embiid’s absence, the Sixers’ season has been in free fall, plunging into the play-in positions in the Eastern Conference rather than the automatic post-season spots.
The 30-year-old’s return on April 2 suggested the Sixers may yet be capable of upsetting the form book heading into the play-offs after battling past the Thunder, who went into the game as Western Conference leaders.
Embiid, who finished with 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds after logging nearly 30 minutes of game time, was visibly exhausted after dragging the Sixers (41-35) over the line.
“Not good,” he replied, when asked how he felt following the victory. “But I’m glad we got through it and we got the win.”
Sixers coach Nick Nurse added: “I thought the biggest impact, he scored some, I thought he passed the ball really well but again, when we start amping up our defence in the last six minutes, he was down there again...
“He looked pretty good for not playing for a couple of months, that’s for sure.”
Embiid said his rehabilitation from a torn left meniscus had been one of the most challenging injury layoffs of his career.
“Usually, when I have injuries, I just tell myself, move on to the next one, get better, and then fix it. But this one took a toll mentally, being depressed... It was not a good one,” said Embiid, who wore a large brace on his heavily strapped left knee.
“I just wanted to come back. I’m only going to get better but this one has been the hardest by far, especially mentally,” he added.
Oklahoma City led for most of the game and looked to be on course for victory after opening up a 13-point lead early in the second half.
However, a fourth-quarter rally from the Sixers – outscoring their short-handed opponents 36-25 – swung the game decisively back in favour of the home team.
Two Embiid free throws put Philadelphia ahead 106-105 with 38 seconds remaining, and he then made a crucial steal before drawing a foul which sent him back to the free throw line to put the Sixers up 108-105.
Tobias Harris then made a late free throw to seal the win.
In Washington, the Milwaukee Bucks were stunned 117-113 by the lowly Wizards.
Corey Kispert was the hero for Washington, finishing with 27 points from 10-of-18 shooting from the field to secure only the 15th win of the season for the Wizards.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 35 points but it was not enough to prevent the Bucks (47-28) from sliding to a defeat that left coach Doc Rivers questioning his team’s durability away from home.
“I’ve been sitting back and watching everything – not just our players, but our travel crew, everything,” Rivers said.
“We don’t bring the necessary professionalism and seriousness on the road. That’s something we can fix and it’s something we’re going to have to fix,” he added. “We’ve got to be a better road team.”
The Wizards’ next opponents will be the Los Angeles Lakers, who continued their successful road trip with a 128-111 win over the Toronto Raptors. LeBron James finished with 23 points while Anthony Davis had 21.
In Denver, Nikola Jokic powered the Nuggets past the San Antonio Spurs with a 42-point display as the NBA champions claimed a 110-105 win that saw them reclaim top spot in the West.
Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama narrowly missed out on a rare quadruple double, finishing with 23 points, 15 rebounds, nine blocks and eight assists. AFP
