Joel Embiid scores 41 points in return from knee injury, leads 76ers past Rockets 124-115

Joel Embiid returns from injury, scores 41 points to lead Philadelphia 76ers to victory over Houston Rockets. Maxey adds 27 points.

Joel Embiid made an impressive return from his recent injury, scoring 41 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 124-115 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday. This marked his 16th consecutive game with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey also contributed 27 points for the Sixers, while Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 19 points and Dillon Brooks scored 18.

Embiid, who missed the last three games due to left knee inflammation, has only played two games this month after missing all four games on the 76ers' holiday road trip. The team has a 3-7 record this season without him, highlighting his importance to the team. As the reigning NBA MVP and two-time defending league scoring champion, Embiid leads the NBA in scoring with an average of 34.6 points per game.

The 29-year-old's health is crucial to the team's hopes for a deep postseason run, but his absences have raised concerns about his candidacy for another MVP trophy. The new collective bargaining agreement requires players to play in 65 regular-season games to be eligible for awards such as MVP or the All-NBA teams. Embiid has only met this threshold twice in his career, and can miss only eight more games out of the final 44 before he is no longer eligible for MVP.

Despite these concerns, Embiid's performance on Monday demonstrated his impact on the court. He made the game look easy, scoring 13 points in the first quarter and another 13 in the second quarter. Maxey and Tobias Harris also contributed to the Sixers' lead with consecutive 3-pointers, and the team went into halftime with a 66-47 advantage.

Embiid's impressive performance continued in the second half, as he scored at least 30 points for the 17th straight game and secured his 10th rebound in the fourth quarter. He made 12 of 21 shots and 16 of 17 free throws, showcasing his dominance on the court.

Looking ahead, the Rockets will play against New York on Wednesday, while the Sixers have a Tuesday home game against Denver. With Embiid back in action, the Sixers are poised to continue their strong performance and make a push for the postseason.

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