Joel Embiid scores 34 points in return to 76ers lineup after missing 1 game with sinus fracture

Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers lineup after missing an entire game due to a sinus fracture. Wearing a protective mask, he scored 34 points in a 108-98 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. Embiid also had nine assists and five rebounds in 25 minutes.

Embiid suffered a ruptured sinus in the game against the Indiana Pacers last Friday when he was accidentally hit in the face by Bennedict Mathurin. The Sixers said Monday that he will be re-evaluated in a week.

But four days later, Embiid was back in the squad. Due to a fortunate stretch in Philadelphia’s schedule, he missed only one game because of the injury – Monday’s 121-108 win over the Hornets.

Embiid established himself early, scoring eight of Philadelphia’s first 14 points as the Sixers took a 41-23 lead in the first quarter.

However, the Sixers cooled off while the Hornets were able to erase the big deficit. With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, Charlotte cut Philadelphia’s lead to 89-83. But three straight baskets from Embiid helped the Sixers extend their lead again.

Friday’s contest was just the fourth in which Philly’s Big Three of Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey played together. The Sixers went 1-2 in their last three games.

Maxey scored 23 points with four rebounds and six assists. George only contributed five points, but totaled ten rebounds, eight assists and three steals in his 33 minutes. Kelly Oubre Jr. was Philadelphia’s third 20-point scorer with 22 points, shooting 4 of 6 on 3-pointers.

Vasilije Micić led the Hornets with 20 points, followed by 15 points and seven rebounds from Miles Bridges. Brandon Miller missed the game due to a sprained left ankle he suffered in Monday’s game against Philadelphia.

Next up for the 76ers is a matchup on Saturday night against the NBA-best Cleveland Cavaliers, who defeated the NBA Cup champion Milwaukee Bucks 124-101 on Friday. (Damian Lillard did not play for the Bucks due to a right calf strain.) Will Embiid play the return leg of the back-to-back games on the schedule?