Joel Embiid’s Warriors are part of the ‘process’
The The Philadelphia 76ers had a 20-point lead against the Golden State Warriorsbut they avoided total collapse and ended up as team learning how to manage Joel Embiid and his post-injury rhythm. His short night, his limited role and his benching in Game 4 all tied to the same message: Joel Embiid’s return is all about control. And for Embiid, that control starts with being honest about how his body reacts to the actual pace of the game.
He logged 25 minutes, scored 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. He also sat, provoking questions that he answered directly. The 76ers held on for a tense 99-98 wineven after the early wave had evaporated.
Embiid explains the 76ers’ plan
Joel Embiid said he and 76ers head coach Nick Nurse came to an agreement ahead of time how to optimize those minutes. “I think after the last game I sat too long, and I think that’s happened in the past, earlier in the season,” he said. “Sitting too long and coming back in the fourth was tough.”
“Until I’m able to increase it or they allow me to play more, I think I just have to sit out too long,” the 76ers star continued. “Just play basketball. That’s also the best way to get into a rhythm. Being in and out, not playing back-to-back, basically playing every other day, that’s how you get into a rhythm.”
His conditioning remains a priority, and he made that clear. The 76ers held him out against the Wizards due to injurya choice designed to avoid failures. A close win over the Warriors followed, where the 76ers star pushed his 25-minute limit and stayed committed to the approach. Now the Bucks await, offering the next test in Joel Embiid’s reinforcements and a gradual return from the bench in the fourth quarter.
The 76ers may not have represented Embiid’s dominance last time out, but it revealed something bigger — a calculated comeback shaped by patience and trust.
If this is the rhythm he and the 76ers need now, how dangerous will he look when those minutes stretch to full strength?
2025-12-05 15:46:00
