NBA Notes: Sixers, Joel Embiid, Celtics, Payton Pritchard, Knicks

76ers

Joel Embiid finally returned Sunday night, and while the Sixers didn’t get the win, they at least got their MVP back on the floor.

Embiid logged a season-high 30 minutes in his first game in three weeks, finishing with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting in a double-overtime loss to the Hawks. He didn’t play the second OT as Philadelphia took the cautious route again.

“I thought the first half was pretty good,” Embiid said, via ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “When it’s been almost a month and you’ve only had about two court sessions, going up and down, it’s going to be tough.

“I’m just happy I got a chance to play basketball, build on it and go from there. Tonight is all about how I moved laterally, jumping and all that stuff. Tonight was a good step.”

It was only Embiid’s seventh appearance all season as the Sixers continue to protect the right knee that ended his 2023-24 campaign. He has been productive when available, averaging 19.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in just 24.3 minutes.

Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe also returned after a calf issue and scored seven points in 21 minutes, but he didn’t see the floor in either overtime. Paul George — playing just his fifth game this year — was also held out of the second OT.

“That was just kind of about as much as they had, to be honest,” head coach Nick Nurse said.

Celtics

Payton Pritchard didn’t wait long to wash away Saturday’s dud in Minnesota. The Celtics guard erupted for 42 points on 15-of-22 shooting in Sunday’s win in Cleveland, drilling his first three nine seconds into the game and closing with 15 more in the fourth.

“I just wanted to come out tonight after a disappointing night before and redeem myself,” Pritchard said, via Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. “Hopefully I can continue this and catch a rhythm. I’m not saying every night’s going to be scoring, but be efficient and help the team win.”

“I’m a competitor,” he added. “You can either fold… but for me, today I’m going to come out and give everything I’ve got.”

Knicks

The Knicks pushed to 10-1 at Madison Square Garden with a comfortable 22-point win over Toronto, and Karl-Anthony Towns said the fans deserve the assist.

“Our fans make playing at home so fun,” Towns said, via Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “The support and energy they give us is priceless. They’ve carried us to the finish line more than just home games.”

Josh Hart continues to thrive in OG Anunoby’s absence. Over the past seven games, Hart has averaged 14.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals on .521 shooting.

He delivered again Sunday with 20 points, 12 boards, seven assists and three steals.

“Josh, he’s a baller,” coach Mike Brown said Friday. “It doesn’t matter what you throw in front of him. He just goes and balls out.”