The Philadelphia 76ers finally have their talisman back in action. Joel Embiid, who missed more than two months due to a meniscus tear, made his long-awaited return against the OKC Thunder on 2nd April. He also played in yesterday’s crunch game against the Miami Heat. Led by Embiid’s 29-point performance, the 76ers emerged victorious in their match with the Heat. However, during this entire period, the Sixers had listed Embiid as “out” in their injury reports.

Due to their inaccurate report of Joel Embiid’s status, the NBA has levied a heavy fine on the Sixers organization. According to a recently released official statement from the NBA, “The Philadelphia 76ers have been fined $100,000 for violating league injury report rules.” 

The Sixers prior infarction occurred when Philly were supposed to play the Denver Nuggets. The match was built up as a battle between the two best players in the league. However, Joel Embiid was unable to participate in the game due to knee soreness, despite being initially listed as available. Nuggets HC Michael Malone called for an inquiry in the post-match press conference. He said, “I don’t know how you go from being active, available, to out. I’m sure the league will do their due diligence. Because that’s frowned upon.”

The league did their “due diligence,” and determined that the Sixers had not properly reported Embiid’s injury status on their injury report. As a result, they were fined $75,000 for this violation. However, the 76ers won’t mind this minor setback in the slightest, especially since Embiid has guided them to two consecutive victories since his return.

Joel Embiid’s instant impact on the fortunes of the Sixers

Joel Embiid finally made his comeback from injury on April 2nd against the OKC Thunder. Despite the 76ers having lost three of their last four games prior to his return, Embiid’s presence turned things around. He delivered an impressive performance with 24 points, 7 assists, and, 6 rebounds in just 29 minutes of play, leading the Sixers to a 109-105 win. His 29-point performance also proved crucial, as Philly defeated the seventh-seeded Heat yesterday.

Now, the Sixers are on a three-game winning streak. This form has propelled them to within touching distance of a guaranteed playoff spot. However, they have struggled without Embiid, winning only 14 of the 41 games that Embiid has missed. On the contrary, Philadelphia possesses one of the best records in the league when Joel Embiid is fit, winning 28 out of the 36 games he has played.

Joel Embiid’s return to fitness makes the Sixers a daunting opponent to face in the playoffs. Even title contenders like the Celtics and Bucks wouldn’t want to face the Sixers during the early stages of the postseason. However, it looks like that would be the case, given that the 76ers currently occupy the 8th spot, with less than 10 regular season games remaining.

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