Two-time NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers’ starting lineup against the Chicago on Sunday.

After missing his first seven shots and ambling deliberately in his left knee brace in the first quarter, the 2023 MVP went on a tear to propel the Sixers to a 108-100 win.

Embiid connected on eight of his next 10 shots in the second quarter for his first 19 points of the game, lifting Philadelphia to a 62-50 halftime lead. The Sixers stretched it to 19 before holding on for their fourth win in five games, and Embiid finished with 31.

Embiid, a seven-time All-Star, added 12 rebounds in his fifth game this season. The 7-foot center had missed the previous seven games because of knee injuries and a three-game suspension for pushing a sports columnist.

Tyrese Maxey got his first career triple-double as part of the winning formula and clicked with Embiid. Maxey finished with 25 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds.

SPURS’ PAUL MOVES UP TO NO. 2: San Antonio point guard Chris Paul moved to second on the NBA’s all-time assists list against the New Orleans Pelicans, the franchise where his 20-year career began, on Sunday

The 39-year-old Paul collected his 12,092nd assist on a 3-pointer from Victor Wembanyama with 7:06 remaining in the first half of what turned out to be a 121-116 victory.

Paul surpassed former Phoenix and Dallas star Jason Kidd on the all-time list. John Stockton is the league’s career leader with 15,806 career assists over 19 seasons, all with the Utah Jazz.

After failing to collect an assist in the opening quarter against New Orleans, Paul had three assists in the first five minutes of the second quarter to achieve the milestone.

MAGIC ROLL AT HOME: Jalen Suggs scored 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and Orlando beat Phoenix 115-110 to remain the NBA’s only team unbeaten at home this season. Magic center Goga Bitadze had 21 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, including a game-clinching tip-in with 13.1 seconds left.

ANOTHER BIG GAME BY JOKIC: Nikola Jokic scored 48 points and the Nuggets never trailed in their 141-111 win over the Hawks. The Nuggets snapped a two-game losing streak that included Saturday night’s 122-113 loss at Washington, ending the Wizards’ 16-game losing streak. Jokic scored a career-high 56 points in the loss.

HORNETS END SLIDE: Brandon Miller hit two free throws in the final seconds and finished with 26 points as Charlotte Hornets snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 113-109 win over Indiana.

HEAT REMAIN HOT: Tyler Herro scored 34 points, Duncan Robinson had 23 and Miami beat Cleveland 122-113. Miami has scored at least 121 points in each of its last three games, tying the longest such streak in franchise history.