76ers Down Bulls 108-100 In Joel Embiid’s Return To The Lineup
Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
The Process is back folks. For the first time since November 20, former MVP and 76ers star center Joel Embiid returned to the lineup for Philadelphia in their 108-100 win over the Chicago Bulls. With the win, the 76ers improved to 7-15 on the year and have won four of their last five games.
The Big Man had an excellent performance in his return to the lineup. He struggled early, starting 0-6 from the field, but a 19-point second quarter helped power Embiid to 31 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. Tyrese Maxey was impressive as well, with his No. 1 option returning, as he finished with 25 points and 14 assists. For Chicago, Zach LaVine led the way with 30 points on six three-pointers and added four assists, while Coby White and Nikola Vucevic scored 13 points each.
As the game tipped off, both teams got out to a slow start with Guerschon Yabusele and Josh Giddey scoring early but not much other offense. The Bulls eventually jumped out in front thanks to a pair of buckets from LaVine and a longer three from Nikola Vucevic but Kelly Oubre Jr. answered with a three of his own.
Joel Embiid struggled in his first minutes of action, as he went 0-2 from three and 0-6 from the field overall before being subbed out. With Embiid out for the remainder of the first quarter, Chicago took full advantage of it. Coby White and rookie Matas Buzelis both knocked down two shots as well as Lavine finishing the quarter with 10 points as the Bulls led 33-23 after the first 12 minutes.
However, the second quarter is where the 76ers really turned it on. Embiid finally got going with an easy layup and continued with another two buckets as well as a layup from Maxey to make it a one-point game, however, the Bulls answered back with a pair of threes from Julian Phillips and Talen Horton-Tucker.
Philadelphia then went on a 15-0 run over the next three minutes to jump out to a huge lead. Kyle Lowry started things off with a three and then Embiid kept things going with eight straight points. Maxey and KJ Martin then added buckets until finally a layup from Giddey ended the Bulls’ scoreless run.
The 76ers kept their foot on the gas though, as Embiid continued his impressive quarter with a pair of jumpers and Jared McCain joined in on the fun with his first three of the game. After everything was said and done the 76ers finished the quarter outscoring the Bulls 39-17 to take a 62-50 lead into halftime.
At the start of the second half, the 76ers kept things rolling from the first half. Maxey started the scoring for Philadelphia with a three and Embiid then scored five straight points. White drilled a pair of three to get Chicago back in up but was silenced by a quick five points from Maxey. Up 19, the Bulls needed points and did that with three three-pointers (two from Lavine and one from Ayo Dosunmu). McCain drilled another three and Maxey added two more buckets but a long three from Lonzo Ball, a layup from Giddey, and a half-court three at the buzzer from Jalen Smith 88-79 76ers heading into the fourth quarter
In the fourth, the Bulls opened it up with a bucket from White and another three from Smith to make it a five-point game. A three from Oubre and a layup from got the lead back to nine, but another pair of three this time both from Lavine made it 100-95 Philadelphia.
With just under three minutes left to play, Embiid knocked down a clutch 14-footer to back up seven. After misses from both team’s centers, Maxey and Lavine traded quick layups, before Lavine missed a three with under a minute left to play. Oubre was fouled and knocked down both free throws but Lavine went right down and nailed another long three. Maxey was fouled, made both free throws, and after a missed three from Lavine, the 76ers dribbled out the clock winning 108-100.
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Matt Brown
Matt has been a Philadelphia sports fan all his life and spent four years at Penn State University majoring in Broadcast Journalism and minoring in Sports Studies. He previously covered Penn State’s field hockey, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball teams while writing for a Penn State blog called Onward State. He has now covered the Phillies, Eagles, and Sixers for Philly Sports Reports since October 2024 and wants to pursue a career in Sports Journalism.
