PHILADELPHIA >> Joel Embiid took an errant headbutt to the face, looked gassed early in his 26-minute season debut, flopped, as the big man can — though extra seconds on the floor provided a needed breather — and failed to find his shot in his return to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Embiid hit the court to a rousing ovation from nearly 20,000 fans but failed to stir the Sixers out of their early season slumber that kept them anchored at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
He shot just 2 for 11, grabbed three rebounds and scored 13 points, not enough to prevent the 76ers from another loss, 111-99 to the New York Knicks on Tuesday night
The 2023 NBA MVP, Embiid also missed 4 of 5 3-point attempts and had a pair of turnovers.
“I mean, the first five minutes,” were rusty, Embiid said. “I thought after that, it was fine. You can do whatever you want in practice and (a) scrimmage. But the game is a different story. I’ll be fine.”
Embiid, his season marred by injuries and suspension, wasted no time giving the Sixers a tantalizing glimpse of what could be — a dish to fellow oft-injured All-Star Paul George for a layup to open the game.
“I thought he got a little tired again in the fourth,” coach Nick Nurse said. “I thought he played with some pretty good competitive spirit.”
Embiid, wearing a brace on his surgically repaired left knee, pointed skyward as he hit the court for pregame warmups and looked ready to roll for his debut.
He had already stuck around for extra work after shootaround. The 7-footer was in no rush to finish his drills.
Embiid shot free throws, worked on his post game and made soft jumpers during a Tuesday morning workout in preparation of his season debut and his first game playing with George, who joined the Sixers over the summer on a four-year, $212 million contract.
With Embiid and George, the Sixers fell to 2-8 and with the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers in town Wednesday night.
“You just see how much he demands eyes and attention on him,” said George, who led the Sixers with 29 points. “For me, a lot of it was just kind of learning. He’s a force out there. You’ve got to find him, you’ve got to see him.”
Embiid, George and fellow All-Star Tyrese Maxey, out with a right hamstring injury, were the 76ers’ version of a Big Three that was expected to make them one of the big favorites out of the East.
The trio instead has yet to play a game together.
“I think it’s all about us just getting on the floor together, learning how to play with each other,” Embiid said. “I’m back. PG is feeling pretty good. We just need to get Tyrese back. Once we’re all on the floor, I think we’re going to have a pretty good chance to win some games.”
The 76ers face an uphill climb into a top seed in the East. In the last 27 years, only three teams had such a start and went on to make the playoffs.