3 observations after Sixers ride hot start to victory in masked Embiid’s return

Philadelphia: So, Joel Embiid made a big comeback on Friday night, right? He was rocking a black mask after a sinus fracture and led the Sixers to a 108-98 win over the Hornets at Wells Fargo Center. He scored 34 points, dished out nine assists, grabbed five rebounds, and even had two blocks and two steals. Talk about a performance!

Three other players also stepped up, with Tyrese Maxey scoring 23 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. adding 22. The Sixers were missing a couple of guys, but they still managed to pull off the win. The Hornets, on the other hand, are really struggling this season, now sitting at 7-21.

The game started off strong for the Sixers. Embiid seemed a bit off at first, missing a couple of shots, but then he found his rhythm. He made some great plays, including a slick layup and a three-point play that got the crowd hyped. Maxey was on fire too, hitting four threes in the first quarter alone.

But then things cooled down a bit. The Sixers switched up their lineup, and the offense took a hit. They only scored 17 points in the second quarter, which let the Hornets stay in the game longer than they should have. It was a bit of a rollercoaster, but Embiid found his groove again in the third quarter, hitting some nice shots.

In the end, the Sixers managed to seal the deal, even though it got a little tense there for a moment. Embiid was a beast down the stretch, showing why he’s such a key player for the team. With this win, the Sixers are looking to build some momentum as they head into their next game against the Cavs.