Joel Embiid returned and helped boost the hospital Sixers to a huge home win. Philly finds themselves now in fifth place in the East at 12-9. Shake Milton, De’Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, and Georges Niang all stepped it up in a big way. Philadelphia, of course, has been without James Harden (sprained foot) for some time, then they lost both Tyrese Maxey (fractured foot) and Embiid (sprained foot) as well. But Embiid’s was the least severe and he dominated vs. the Hawks on Monday.
It’s that time of the year where teams are less inclined to lean on stars, and perhaps play it conservatively with certain guys who are banged up.