Joel Embiid’s dominance key to 76ers season turnaround

Joel Embiid is back!

In his fifth game back, after missing nine following a fight with COVID-19, the Cameroonian big man is showing signs of a dominant level of play, one that made him an MVP finalist during the 2020-21 season.

Monday night against the Hornets, a team that had just won a big win in Atlanta, Embiid took over down the stretch and wished the team a 127-124 victory in overtime.

Erupting for a season-high 43 points, to go with 15 rebounds and seven assists, he scored or assisted on 15 of the team’s last 16 points and nearly outscored the Hornets by himself in that span (13-14).

This is his second 40-point game of the season, both since his return on November 27. The victory comes shortly after the team’s victory a few days earlier in Atlanta.

MORE: Embiid leads 76ers to statement win against Hawks

It is the first time the 76ers have won consecutive games since November 6, courtesy of their 3-9 record in 12 games through the second half of November. A big reason for that drop was the availability of the team’s two stars, Embiid and Tobias Harris.

Today’s contest was only the fourth game they had played together since October 30, as the 6-foot-8-inch wing also had its own battle with COVID-19 in November. With both back, the team is almost back in full force, save of course for the prolonged absence of Australian Ben Simmons.

“He’s dominant,” Harris said of Embiid after the victory at Charlotte. “The way he impacts the game offensively, he’s a shooter. He’s the guy we go to when we need a bucket and he delivers it for us.”

Philadelphia is now 3-2 since Embiid’s return with his two losses by two points combined.

With nearly all of their team healthy, at least the ones that were available on opening night and sparked an 8-2 start to the season, the 76ers can begin to work on a turnaround, yet they have one of the longest schedules. tough league. for December.

Heading into December, the 76ers have the second-toughest schedule of the month in the Eastern Conference and the third-toughest overall based on their opponent’s winning percentage, according to NBA.com’s John Schuhmann.

Here’s a look at their upcoming schedule:

Currently in seventh place in the East with a 13-11 record, only time will tell how the 76ers fare in the games ahead.