Embiid 'got lucky' with shooting on 76ers return

The 76ers secured a 108-100 win in Chicago, as they recorded their fourth win in five NBA games following a dreadful 3-14 start to the season.

Embiid, who returned to action having missed the last seven games in a row, tallied 31 points and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes.

In a dominant second quarter for Philadelphia, the 30-year-old racked up 19 of his points on 8-of-12 shooting, improving on the first quarter in which he missed all six of his shot attempts.

"I just got lucky that I started making shots," Embiid said. "It is luck."

Having struggled with a knee injury which also saw him miss the opening nine games of the season, he admitted it has been tough to work around the ongoing problem.

"I've been saying it for the last few months," he added. "It's been extremely depressing.

"It's something that hasn't been figured out, and it's been extremely annoying because I would love to play every single game.

SO BACK. pic.twitter.com/ciJjjgmGak

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 8, 2024

"There's no injury. Just between the swelling ... we've got to get it figured out. That's it."

Embiid was back in the line-up alongside fellow All-Stars Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, with Maxey posting his first career triple-double by compiling 25 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists.

The trio had only shared the court for six minutes before Sunday's game due to injuries, but in 26 minutes together against Chicago, they showed glimpses of their best, but head coach Nick Nurse was particularly impressed with Embiid's influence.

"Certainly, big turnaround from the first quarter," Nurse said.

"Suddenly, [Embiid] caught fire there, with a little bit of variety. I know it seemed like a lot of foul line jumpers, which it was, but he snuck in a roll or two, he snuck in a couple post-ups...