Embiid scores 24 points in return, 76ers beat Timberwolves
PHILADELPHIA (AP) â Joel Embiid was happy to be back on the court even if he wasnât thrilled with his game.
Embiid had 24 points and eight rebounds in his return to the lineup, and Tobias Harris scored 32 to lead the Philadelphia 76ers over the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-113 on Saturday night.
Embiid missed the previous 10 games due to a bone bruise in his left knee. The four-time All-Star and MVP candidate entered averaging 29.9 points and 11.5 rebounds in 31 games this season.
Philadelphia fans were happy to see their favorite big man back in action, serenading a smiling Embiid with âM-V-P! M-V-P!â chants when he was shown on the big screen during warmups.
With his left knee heavily wrapped, Embiid moved well but his game wasnât quite as sharp as it had been before he got injured March 12 at Washington. Embiid shot 6 of 14 from the field, but missed all four 3-point tries, and converted 12 of 17 free throws.
âIt felt great,â he said. âJust trying to get my rhythm back. Iâm going to blame the brace I was wearing. I just felt like I didnât have my rhythm all game. It felt like I wasnât smooth. I hate the brace.â
Ben Simmons added 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Philadelphia (34-15), which pulled even with idle Brooklyn for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
âWe won the game, but I wasnât thrilled how we played,â coach Doc Rivers said. âIt was one of those sloppy, ugly games. We had so many chances to put the game away, but we refused to do that tonight.â
Karl-Anthony Towns had 39 points, 14 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves, who have the worst record in the NBA at 12-38.
âHe is unstoppable. Just give him the ball,â said teammate Anthony Edwards, who added 27 points.
Led by Townsâ 17 points and eight rebounds, Minnesota hung around in the first half and trailed just 64-60 at the break. Philadelphia used a quick 13-0 run to start the second half, over which the 76ers didnât miss a shot, to take control. The spurt was capped by Seth Curryâs free throw that made it 77-60 with 9:03 left in the third quarter following a technical foul on Minnesota coach Chris Finch.
That was too much ground for the Timberwolves to make up â although they did make it a game late.
Minnesota got as close as four on several occasions in the last five minutes, the last on Edwardsâ dunk with 2:02 left. But Harris was too much down the stretch, coming up with an answer every time the Timberwolves got close. Harris hit the final four 76ers field goals, including a driving dunk that made it 117-111 with 1:46 to play.
âWin by any means, thatâs really my mentality,â Harris said. âMy intention is to do whatever I can to walk in the locker room with a win.â
TOWNS VS. EMBIID
The two big men have an adversarial history, with both earning suspensions for a fight during an October 2019 game in Philadelphia that was followed by a postgame exchange of social media barbs.
There were some moments on Saturday that couldâve gotten heated, but Towns remained calm throughout and leaned on his play.
He provided a highlight in the first half when he dunked over Embiid with 8:15 left in the second quarter.
âJust a play, two points. Felt good to get two points on the board,â Towns said. âI ainât worried about that squabble; Iâm trying to get wins.â
Towns, booed during introductions and whenever he touched the ball, followed up the dunk with an emphatic block of Matisse Thybulleâs layup attempt on Philadelphiaâs ensuing possession.
Embiid gained some revenge late in the half when he crossed over Towns, was fouled and hit a short baseline jumper before landing on the court.
Philadelphiaâs big man spun Towns around with a hard foul with 7:04 left in the third, but nothing came of it. Embiid tried to keep Towns calm, although Towns walked away looking unhappy. Finch wanted the officials to review the play for a possible flagrant foul, but there was no review.
Embiid did get whistled for a Flagrant 1 foul with 7:38 left in the fourth when he slashed down at Townsâ arms as he was driving to the basket.
âIâm not here to live out a narrative people want; Iâm here to win the game,â Towns said. âI take hard fouls every game.â
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Finch, a Pennsylvania native from Reading, said he had friends in attendance. ⊠Ricky Rubio (back) and Malik Beasley (hamstring) didnât play. ⊠Minnesota dropped to 5-21 on the road.
76ers: Rivers said afterward Embiidâs status for Sundayâs game against Memphis wasnât yet determined but the team would be more âcautious than aggressiveâ with its star center. ⊠Philadelphia improved to 20-4 at home and 17-5 against teams under .500. ⊠Veteran G George Hill participated in non-contact drills at shootaround. Hill, acquired by the 76ers on March 25, has been out since Jan. 24 with a thumb injury. ⊠Embiid has missed 16 games with back and knee injuries this season.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Host the Sacramento Kings on Monday.
76ers: Host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports