Embiid Returns, Sixers Come Back Against Hawks

get those questions coming in, those comments coming in. So as I go through this box for in our open, I would love to hear what you guys say standout performances, and then I'm gonna let Matt Murphy take it away with some analysis. So guys, let's get right into it.

Joel Embiide back at it again. Miss the Sixers three game trip on which they went to and won one back to back games in Orlando rather not in a back to back to back at Orlando the day in between, and then we're able to win their third game in four days last night at home at the Center. Joel Embiid led the way in his return thirty points, eight rebounds, seven assists, two steals, two blocks, nine for eighteen from the field twelve or thirteen from the free throw line.

That doesn't even begin to tell the whole story when you look at what he was able to do defensively, and those eleven final points for the Sixers all coming from Embid In that fourth quarter, Tobias Harris was excellent once again, twenty four points, ten rebounds and an assist. He shot ten for eighteen from the field, three for seven from three point range. Shake Milton also excellent once

again twenty one points, five rebounds, seven assists. Matt He's becoming a little bit of a triple double risk, and of course more so when Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxie and James Harden aren't available. But Shake Milton remaining so productive with Joel back in the lineup is exciting to see. D Anthony Melton and George Niang contributed nine points, strong outing from Matisse Thyble, who also returned to the lineup

last night for the first time about a week. He finished with four points in just eight minutes and had a steal. He looked good, Matt. He made both of his attempts for Concord Maas Paul Reid, Daniel House Junior PJ. Tucker, all also playing a role in this one. So any questions, any thoughts on those guys, please send them in, but without further a do Good morning, Matt Murphy. How are you. What did you think about last night's victory. It was a hard fought win for the Sixers to get to

twelve and nine on the season. They've won three in a row. Impressive second win in Orlando, rolling that into the second half of a back to back where they traveled home taking on a Hawks team that played at in Atlanta the night before and was looking to bounce back. The Sixers and Hawks play these close games. I think for the Sixers too, As many of the players said afterwards, and we will hear from audio from some of them today during the show, they had to grind it out.

They had to keep fighting. That was the message in the huddle, Fight, chip away, come back, And that's the number on the box score that stood out to me was the number sixteen. That was the biggest lead, sixteen points for the Atlanta Hawks. So the biggest comeback of the season so far for the Philadelphia seventy six ers. When you were going through the individual players and mentioning Shake Milton triple double watch in the past few games.

With the seven assists zero turnovers, that's a number another number that stood out to me from the box score. A clean game from Shake Milton, who got it going as the game was progressing, just like Joel Embiid, who with him back in the lineup to do most of his damage when it mattered most, finished with thirty points, eight rebounds and seven assists himself key defensive play against Trey Young to seal the deal. But Shake got it going as well. They were playing off each other quite

well when the game mattered most. And we can dive more into that. I want to hear from everyone as well, so we could sort through some of the messages and tweets. But yeah, the comeback effort, given the circumstances and it being a sixteen point comeback, was something that I was

looking at for sure. Joel Embiid, of course the top story in his return to the court, but he understands that there were some other top stories going on this week and after the game, Joel gave a lot of credit, a lot of props to that group that went out on the road and did so well in the absence again of Joel of Tyrese and of James Harden during that time. Let's hear Joel immediately post game last night was made up his play out, I've been doing so good. Um.

I think that just been you know, trusting each other. Um, you know, even before I got hurt. I think, you know, the way we were playing then, we were playing together, you know, just moving the ball, you know, making sure everybody touches the ball. And obviously the last four games, you know, that've been playing on another level and defensively and offensively. I think our offense has been so good because of our defense. So I think that's the reason

why we've been winning all these games. The seventy sixers now have won seven of their last nine. They have won four of their last five, and three of those in a row. Matt the team leaving this afternoon to head to Cleveland, where they will face the Cavaliers tomorrow. But I love what Joel said about the way that the guys were able to sort of shoulder the burdens,

step up and step in. That's what we heard all week long from those guys that were stepping up, and cool to see Joel give them props and then put the team on his back in that second half of a back to back, Matt, I think you might have had a better angle of the fourth quarter than I did. For those that don't know, I sort of move around in the fourth quarter when it looks like the Sixers are going to take a victory. Did you see from Joel Embiid in that eleven point run in that final

game saving steal. How did it feel to watch Joel in prime fashion last night in his return? You know, it's interesting because he only had two field goals made in the fourth quarter, so he did the bulk of the scoring and the bulk of his scoring for that matter, in the second half in the fourth quarter. Much of that came on free throws. But his two field goals were as well timed as they could have possibly been.

They cleared out the one side. He made something out of nothing, or so it seemed for the first one when he you know, he backed down Capella and scored and then on what turned out to be the game winning basket. That was an action with Shake Milton speaking of their two man game that Doc Rivers talked about

a postgame as well. There was a question about it and just running that pick and roll at the elbow or pick and pop in this case, and when Joel pops out, Doc mentioned this and you can see it develop. The defense has a decision to make because they have to either choose to stop Shake from going all the way to the basket. If they do that, then he can pass it back out to Joel, who ultimately hits

what proves to be the game winner. And then in that environment against these Hawks, this Hawks team with Trey Young, and to get a defensive stop where he baited Trey Young into throwing a lob. It was very, very impressive

to see. You said it. Twelve and nine record, they've won seven of nine, they've won eight of eleven, and now it's kind of odd that they come home for this one game on the second half of a back to back, and now, Lauren, you're heading right back out on the road with the Sixers team for a tough stretch of games, a tough road trip at Cleveland, at Memphis, at Houston. So it was just a quick stop at home. But having him bid back, I think is going to just inject even more life into this team that had

already been clicking. We heard him say it. He said his teammates have just been playing so well in the absence of such key pieces. Now they'll have to do it on the road again. It's a quirky little stretch for the seventy six ers. Matt. You mentioned it heading out on this road trip. I'm seeing some questions and comments about the injury report. We don't have a new one for today, but I can tell you what Doc Rivers said yesterday about his team. He said he was

hoping that Joel would play. Joel did. Indeed, he said that he knows that James Harden is out on the court doing work on the court for the first time, but he didn't feel or not for the first time, but has been out on the court rather But he didn't feel that Tyrese Maxie was quite there yet. We did see Tyrese last night. He's no longer in the boot. That is, I guess a bit of an update in itself. But those guys, as you know, Matt, are itching, itching,

itching to get back out there on the floor. So great to see Joel come back, great to hear the other two are progressing, and we will keep you guys posted. Sorry not to have a better answer about those injuries, Lauren.

I think we can use that as an opportunity to go inside the locker room a bit because we were in there for pregame media availability prior to this Hawks game when Tyree came in no boot, and it was fun to see him interacting with his teammates and sort of greeting all of them and like tapping them on the shoulder and saying, hey, how's it going. Well, it's a tough stretch for a guy like Tyrese Maxie who

loves being with his team so much. Right, we just saw the Sixers have a very long homestand there's another one coming up, but this is a really extreme stretch of being away. Matt. You mentioned that they came back into town just for thirty six hours in one game, and it means that Tyrese Maxie has been away from his teammates for quite a long time and it is about to be potentially away from them for another week

or so. It's got to be tough for a guy that loves his teammates the way that he does and that loves being around. So it was cool to see him come back in and embrace the crew the way that he did, and they were all excited of course, to see him without the boot, because when the team left a week ago he was in that boot. He was moving very gingerly. Good to see him sort of moving a little bit like himself. Last night, Matt, I want to go to Tobias Harris now and hear from him.

He discussed the fight. You mentioned it. They didn't stop, they didn't quit. That was the message in the huddle all night long, and Tobias talked about it postgame. Uh yeah, I mean, you know, all throughout the game we were saying just keep fighting. Obviously early on, you know, there's a couple a lot of times there where we called ourselves down ten points, thirteen points and whatnot. But we kept fighting all throughout the whole night, UM and were

just able to create something towards the end of the game. Uh, get get some energy in that um towards the end of the third quarter to give us some life there. And once we were able to do that, were really able to just flow and you know, do what we do to close out, close out of a good home victory. You know, to have Joel back from the line up, a bunch of you making us before us, it was great. I mean, you know, obviously, just his presence and his

dominance is its huge for our whole group. Um, and I thought, you know, really, he did a great job of just involving everybody in the game. Seven assists is huge, and you know, his his ability to to take over games, especially in the fourth quarter. He's a big fuss and he just you know, did awesome. And you know, we were excited to have him back. You know, we would love to have him back earlier, but it was good

to just get him back for tonight. That's Tobias Harris discussing the fight of his teammates, discussing Joel embiids come back and Matt when you think about what he came back from in that meantime period, Tobias Harris and Shake Milton really were tremendous for the seventy six ers. Shakes the one we haven't spoken about yet tonight, But I want to run back through his last couple of games. Matt.

I know you've watched Shape closely for many many moons, and I want to hear your thoughts on what he's been able to do. Last night against Atlanta twenty one points, five rebounds, seven assists. Two nights ago, against Orlando twenty nine points, five rebounds, seven assists. That twenty nine point

mark marked his new season high. A game before that twenty four points, nine rebounds and a career high ten assists, just one rebound shot of a twenty four point triple double, and then in Charlotte Shake had twenty two, seven and nine. So it's been quite a tear for young well maybe not so young anymore, Shake Milton. But Matt, what have you seen from him? And how have you seen him grow? Twenty six isn't young anymore? I'm just I mean, no, no, no, no, no,

it is. But I think we say young, Shake Milton, But he's now one of the I mean really one of this team's veteran types, right, and he's one of the longest tenured sixers alongside for con Porkmas, who might not be considered young anymore either, Joel Embiid might somehow not be considered young anymore. That was actually, Matt, I want to hear your thoughts on Shake, But but that reminds me of something that Doc Rivers said last night.

He feels it's a very mature team. Actually. Tyrese Maxie, by far the youngest of those getting a lion share of the minutes, and Tyrese of course, mature beyond his years. So really cool to see the way that these guys that we've considered young for a while are sort of coming into their own and becoming bona fide veterans in their own right. Matt Shake Milton certainly one of those what have you thought of what he's done lately? He is a mature player, and I think he he's had

that from very early on in his career. I'm not just talking G League, but I think we've seen it in spurts over the years with the Sixers, and you're right when it comes to experience, he's been around, and he has played with Joel Embiid for multiple seasons at this point, and Embiid said quote, the NBA is all about opportunity in reference to Shake just last night after the game, So I think that's what it's been about

for Shake Milton. He does play with that poise, that confidence to have zero turnovers with the seven assists, to pick up the scoring in the second half of a game when your legs might not be as fresh as they were during portions of that first three game road trip. While he's in the middle of this scoring tear, the scoring is always going to be there. I think he

looks really comfortable in the offense. And sometimes basketball is a simple game giving your This was a theme of what came out of the postgame is just finding your best players in the spots that they like, giving them the ball where they like to receive the ball. And he has a knack for that right now with Joel Embiid, because they're two guys that know each other's games quite well. At this point. Speaking of mature, the person we just heard from was Tobias Harris, who has a very mature game.

How about the shot at the end of the shot clock I thought was so huge and so much transpired after this point, But early in the fourth quarter, when the shot clock didn't reset, they were trailing, and a three bye Tobias Harris with one second on the shot clock as it was expiring, gave the Sixers a one point lead. And then a big basket followed that from Matisse Thible with the left hand, and the bench absolutely loved the Matisse Thible finished. Those were two big baskets

in the win over the Hawks, for sure. Those two I think Matt made the comeback feel pretty real, and then Joel Embiad of course took it from there. But I like what you said about Tobias's maturity. He's so aware, he's so poised at all times, and that sort of confusing shot clock situation was a perfect example of Tobias taking the game into his own hands and understanding what

the circumstances were and making it count. And then, of course you mentioned Matisse Thible with that lefty finish that if you want to check out the bench reaction to Matisse's lefty finish, which was almost more impressive than the finish itself. The Sixers have you covered on their Twitter,

on their Instagram. It was awesome to see the way that Joel Abiad and Tyres Maxie in particular were so excited to embrace Matisse Thible after that finish in his first return back after he's been away dealing with some ankle pains. So, Matt, as we look ahead, what excites you about about the road ahead? What are you watching for before we wrap this one up? The first two games,

the third game is Houston. They're obviously a young team, but Cleveland is going to be a test every night in the NBA is a tough tests, and I think the Sixers would rather be in this position right now where Joel Embiid plays a game and you have a chance to kind of reset and refocus. That was another big word that came out of this Hawks game. But the focus level, and it's got to be high. You

have Joel Embiid returning to the lineup. They want to keep this positive, this trend of positive play going, maybe build out a win streak. They've won three straight, so they've got this game coming up at Cleveland to seven pm game on Wednesday, seven pm Eastern, NBC Sports Philadelphia ninety seven five. The fanatic. Cleveland's a really good team

at home. They saw them in the preseason. Not that that's any indication the Sixers had a great preseason, but their home record in the regular season the Cavaliers is eight and one. Of course, they have Donovan Mitchell now in Cleveland, so I'm looking forward to see how they fare against Cleveland against Memphis, two teams that are on the upswing right now. When it comes to the NBA landscape, I would say I think those first two games of the three, not to discount the Houston game, but it's

important to get off to a good start. They're going to be tested, yeah, no doubt about it, Matt. The Cleveland Cavaliers have won five of their last seven. They did fall in Toronto last night to the Raptors, but it's a fun team to watch. It's been really cool to see the way that Donovan Mitchell really has fitted

pretty seamlessly. They hit a little bit of a roadblock losing five in a row, but since then they've been awesome and I'm really excited to see how the Sixers stuck up with someone that they could see down the

road and into the playoffs. Lauren, since we didn't talk after the Orlando series the two game mini series, I'm sure we have some passionate Furcon Corkmas supporters in the space and listening after the fact on the seventy Sixers Insiders podcast feed, I think we need to talk about not only the Furcon end of the first quarter buzzer beater three George Niang had one of those against Atlanta, but also the behind the back relocate to the corner hit the three. It's good to see Korkmas back out

there as well, playing with that Furkan swagger. I absolutely love that play. One of my favorites of the year, involving some of the span favorites on this team. Cool to see Furkan heating up. Cool to see him taking advantage of opportunities. Doc Rivers gave him a shout out last night for how competent he's been playing, despite the fact that he really had to earn these minutes and step up during a time when the team was so shorthanded. So cool to see Burkan Korkmas finding a bit of

a stride. Great to see some international fans in this space right now. Perkon will come up against his Turkish friend in Cleveland in Chetti Osman in a couple of days, so Matt looking forward to that. Looking forward to hopefully speaking with you after another Sixers win in Cleveland. That would take us to Thursday morning. If I'm not mistaken, and you mentioned it. These first couple of games will

be exciting ones to be sure. James Harden returning home to Houston also always exciting, and the team gets two days off on Saturday and Sunday, which will be so well deserved. It's been a crazy little stretch for the crew and looking forward to seeing how they're able to capitalize on the momentum they built MAP. I hope that you enjoy the extra day in your hometown of Houston, Texas, and if you will indulge me, I will close out with can I talk about Sabing Lee for a quick second,

the newest How have we not done that yet? Please? Just the timing hasn't worked out. But Saban Lee, of course, now on a two way contract with the Philadelphia seventy Sixers, which means he can play for the Sixers he can play for the Delaware Bluecoats in the G League. He's a twenty three year old guard from Vanderbilt who I've actually seen a good amount in the G League because

he's played eighty five now eighty six NBA games. He scored for the Sixers the other night in Orland in the thirty point win, but he's also played a lot in the G League as well. In the past couple of seasons. He actually had at Chase Fieldhouse in Delaware, he had a forty point game. He's a guy that

gets to the free throw line a remarkable amount. Knows how to control his body and the paint and get to the line gets a lot of steals as well on the defensive end, and the forty point game against the Bluecoats was one of four forty point games that sabin Lee had in the G League last season. So the new Sixers two way guy, sabin Lee is a bucket getter. Looking forward to see him get some buckets

forward the Sixers and for the Delaware blue Coats. For those of you that are unaware, Matt Murphy is our voice of the Delaware blue Coats and he's got quite a halfy schedule at ahead as well. So the Sixers will be back in action tomorrow nineteen Cleveland. Matt, you mentioned it. You can catch that on NBC Sports Philadelphia or on ninety seventy five The Fanatic on the radio. Matt. Looking forward to doing some more of these with you as this season goes along. If you want the last word,

it's all yours. I don't have anything this time, Lauren. Thank you, Thanks everybody for listening. Again, check out the seventy six Ers Insiders podcast speed if you're not already following that, These go up outside of back to backs. These are in both places. So thank you everyone. Thanks guys,