Eastern Conference Recaps, Jan. 25: Joel Embiid Returns in Sixers' Victory Against Brooklyn Nets

After being sidelined one game for a foot injury, center Joel Embiid returned to face former Philadelphia 76ers teammate Ben Simmons for the first time. 

The Sixers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 137-133 in a heated game full of technical fouls. Embiid finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds while Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 27 points. 

“It didn't matter to me, I always try to play whomever is front of me with the same aggression and trying to score the ball,” Embiid said. “I missed a lot of shots today, which hasn't happened in a while. But I'm happy we got the win.”

Seth Curry had a season-high 32 points off the bench to lead the Nets while Kyrie Irving had 30 points and 10 assists.

NEXT 76ERS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Feb. 27 in Philadelphia

NEXT NETS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Feb. 15 in Brooklyn

OTHER NOTES:

-Rookie Paolo Banchero scored 23 points and Gary Harris had 22 to lead the Orlando Magic to a 126-120 victory against the Indiana Pacers. The Magic jumped to an 11-0 lead before holding off a late charge. 

Rookie Bennedict Mathurin scored 26 points off the bench to lead the Pacers.

NEXT PACERS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Feb. 8 at Miami

NEXT MAGIC GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Jan. 27 at Miami

-Kyle Kuzma scored 33 points to lead the Washington Wizards to a 108-103 victory against the Houston Rockets. It was the Wizards' fourth straight win.

Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, his second career triple-double.

NEXT WIZARDS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Apr. 7 in Washington

NEXT ROCKETS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Feb. 10 at Miami

-The Milwaukee Bucks took advantage of the Denver Nuggets being without Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Porter in a 107-99 victory.  

Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 33 points and 14 rebounds for the Bucks in his second game back from a knee injury.  Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with 26 points. 

NEXT NUGGETS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Feb. 13 at Miami

NEXT BUCKS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Feb. 4 in Milwaukee

-Trae Young had 33 points and 11 assists to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 137-132 victory against Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 36 points.

NEXT HAWKS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Mar. 4 at Miami

-Pascal Siakam had 26 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 113-95 victory against the Sacramento Kings. 

Kevin Huerter led the Kings with 21 points while De’Aaron Fox and rookie Keegan Murray had 16.

NEXT RAPTORS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Mar. 28 in Toronto

Cory Nelson is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson. You can also check out his personal blog HERE