Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid will play against the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night after missing 15 games over the past month because of a foot sprain and knee swelling.
Embiid has played just 13 games this season. The 30-year-old missed the entire preseason and the first nine regular-season games — first while managing left knee soreness and then due to a three-game suspension for shoving a reporter. He also missed time because of a sinus fracture.
Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse is not placing a minutes limit on Embiid but said that 30 minutes is realistic, depending on the former MVP feels.
Embiid last played on Jan. 4, scoring 28 points and pulling down 12 rebounds with six assists in 29 minutes of a 123-94 road win over the Brooklyn Nets. He is averaging 24.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and one block in starting 13 games.
For his career, Embiid averages 27.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 blocks in starting all 446 of his regular-season games since the 2016-17 season.
Philadelphia selected him third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, and he missed two seasons because of injury.
The seven-time All-Star will be without teammates Paul George (finger) and guard Quentin Grimes, who was acquired on Tuesday. The other player in that trade, forward Caleb Martin, will not play for Dallas as the transaction is pending.
The Mavericks also will be without P.J. Washington (personal reasons) as well as All-Star Anthony Davis, who is dealing with an abdominal strain. Guard Max Christie, who came over to Dallas from the Los Angeles Lakers in the huge trade Saturday night for Mavs’ star Luka Doncic, is available to play for the Mavericks.
