Joel Embiid made his return to the court for the Philadelphia 76ers in their preseason finale on Friday night, marking his first game action in nearly eight months. In just 19 minutes of play, Embiid came close to recording a triple-double, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. He also contributed three steals, helping the 76ers secure a 126-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse had announced before the game that Embiid would have “fairly short” stints of action, and he adhered to that plan. Embiid did not play in the fourth quarter. The 76ers will open their regular season on Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics.

Embiid wasted no time getting involved. He attempted a 3-pointer just seven seconds into the game on Philadelphia’s first possession, although the shot missed. He played about six minutes in his initial stint to start the game, followed by another three minutes in the early second quarter.

This game marked Embiid’s first since February 22. Last season, his playing time was severely limited due to injuries—he appeared in only 19 games. He missed the first nine games of the 2024-25 season, never played more than four consecutive games, and was ultimately shut down for the final 26 games as the 76ers finished with a disappointing 24-58 record.

Embiid has been participating in light practices since the 76ers training camp began. The perennial All-Star center revealed in recent weeks that there was a “plan in place” for his return following knee surgery in April.

A two-time NBA scoring champion, Embiid underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after an injury-riddled season that also included a sprained left foot and a sinus fracture. He was ruled out for the remainder of last season in late February, after averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists.

Reflecting on his injury setbacks, Embiid said last month, “I’ve had so many injuries. The only thing I’ve always told myself is you can’t give up.”

With his encouraging preseason performance, Embiid looks poised to be a key contributor as the 76ers prepare for the upcoming campaign.
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