Joel Embiid reappeared with the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night after missing nine games due to a positive COVID-19 test.
The Sixers won only two of those games without Embiid.
The Cameroonian center had a complicated time because of the illness, not only being away from basketball. But also not being able to help teammates during the past few weeks.
Embiid and the Sixers were inaccurate early on, causing them to struggle most of the night on the road and failing to avoid a 121-120 double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Wells Fargo Center.
Embiid’s happiness, however, was personal. The Sixers star enjoyed the game against the T-Wolves as a rookie. And recalled the experience he went through with the Covid-19, suffering from trouble breathing and “headaches worse than a migraine.”
“That pack (COVID) hit me hard. I mean, I really thought I wasn’t going to make it,” said Embiid, who is vaccinated. “It was that bad. I’m thankful to be sitting here.”
Karl-Anthony Towns, who starred in a fight with Embiid during a game a little more than two years ago – where both players were ejected and suspended – said afterward that he was glad to see Embiid healthy again.
“That’s bigger than basketball,” said Towns, whose mother Jacqueline died of complications from COVID in April 2020. “I’ve seen people die from it.”
Embiid’s return
Embolite hit 1-of-4 shots in the first eight minutes and took a while to find a rhythm against the Timberwolves. He ended up scoring 25 of his game-high 42 points in the fourth quarter and OTs by shooting 12-for-23 from the field, 16-of-21 from the foul line and grabbing 14 rebounds in 45 minutes.
“Joel was phenomenal tonight, but we still lost the game,” said Sixers coach Doc Rivers. “Joel would take 30 (if they could’ve won). … Give him credit (because) he’s been working out and he showed us that.”
The Sixers played their home opener after going 2-4 on a six-game road trip, which concluded with Wednesday’s loss to the league-leadingthe Golden State Warriors. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves completed a back-to-back after falling 133-115 to the Hornets on Friday in Charlotte.
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