Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid returned for Friday’s contest against the Charlotte Hornets and scored a game-high 34 points in the 76ers’ 108-98 victory.
Embiid missed one game over the last week due to a sinus fracture amid a light 76ers schedule. Donning a face mask for protection, he started and played 31 minutes, shooting 12-of-24 from the field (2-of-4 from deep), adding nine assists, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
He did the bulk of his damage in the second half, scoring 12 points apiece in the third and fourth quarters. He helped Philadelphia avert a Hornets comeback in the final frame, during which Charlotte cut the 76ers’ lead to just four after trailing by 23 in the third.