CAMDEN, N.J. – Joel Embiid was a full participant in the Sixers' practice on Sunday morning, the team said, and head coach Nick Nurse later characterized it as "a pretty heavy day."
Embiid played in his first preseason game since 2023 on Friday night, logging about 20 minutes across four stints in three quarters. He was largely very good, scoring 14 points to go with eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals. However, it always felt that how Embiid's troubled left knee responded to his first game action in nearly eight months was far more important than how he looked in that game itself.
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The Sixers will begin the 2025-26 regular season in Boston on Wednesday night, with two days off in between that game against the Celtics and the team's home opener against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Embiid appears on the verge of suiting up for opening night. While Paul George was also a full participant in Sunday's practice, the nine-time All-Star being on the floor in Boston continues to sound unlikely.
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