Joel Embiid is hopeful that his return to the court is not just a one-time thing.
The Philadelphia 76ers center, who has been dealing with injuries, returned from a left knee issue that kept him out for a month. He didn’t show any signs of rust and recorded his first triple-double of the season in a 118-116 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.
Embiid, who missed the last 15 games, finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. He played 36 minutes, wearing a large brace on his knee, and went 12 for 23 from the field and 4 for 9 from the free-throw line.
“I wish I could play every game,” Embiid said about his plans for the rest of the season. “Whatever God decides from that point on, I can’t control it. Goal is to be available every single night.”
However, coach Nick Nurse confirmed that Embiid would not play in the game against Miami on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Embiid has appeared in only 14 games this season, which he described as “extremely” frustrating. The 76ers have a record of 8-6 with him in the lineup, but their overall record is 20-29. They’ll need him to stay healthy to make a push for the playoffs.
“Trying to find the positives, like support and family, but it’s tough,” Embiid said.
Embiid looked like his usual dominant self, especially in the final moments of the game. His layup with 22 seconds left gave the 76ers the lead, and he grabbed a key defensive rebound on the Mavericks’ next possession. He then defended the final play when Dallas turned the ball over.
“I just wanted to come out aggressive, assert myself inside and out,” Embiid said.
Embiid, who was drafted third overall by Philadelphia in 2014, entered the game averaging 24.4 points and 7.9 rebounds. He believes the 76ers can still turn their season around.
“We just got to get healthy and stay healthy,” he said.
