Joel Embiid was returning to the court after almost nine months without playing any game with the Philadelphia 76ers. The preseason game Friday with Minnesota Timberwolves did not count in the standings, but it provided the ideal opportunity to test his knee and get back into the flow of the play by Embiid.
I felt excited, I said to myself after the game, Joel Embiid said. His final outing was February 22 versus Brooklyn Nets where he had 31 minutes of playing time due to knee swelling and soreness. Movements that were earlier easy were no longer easy.
The experience that I had on Friday was both routine and first day jitters. Embiid used his day just like any other without distinction, spending time with family to a pre-game nap. It struck me after I had that first awful shot, he laughed. I had the ball, and I did not even know whether there was anybody in front of me, and I simply shot it. I believed I did–that it was not even near.
His night was not characterized by that early miss. Embiid was used with 18 minutes, 10 shots and half-baked each, two being three-pointers. He completed having 14 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals.
It is preseason, and only the fact that he was on the court, somehow comfortable was enough to me, Joel Embiid said.
The reaction of the body on the day following Friday will be crucial since the regular season is near. To him, however, the mental side is no less important. The former MVP is concentrating on being positive after two seasons of overcoming injuries and being frustrated by it.
I do not want to think of the past, I said. I am mentally, physically fine.
In the case of Joel Embiid, it was the pleasure of just playing basketball. I am simply glad to feel a basketball and do things I like. That is what I kept on thinking about this evening, playing on the court, making some good plays, making us win, he added.
The Sixers preseason came to an end with a victory over the Timberwolves by 126-110. It is time to look at the opening game of the regular season against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
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