For the first time in what feels like forever, the Philadelphia Sixers will have their guy back in the lineup. No, not Ben Simmons. Four-time all-star Joel Embiid is slated to make his return from a three-week absence when the Sixers host the Minnesota Timberwolves, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Embiid opened the season with the fifth-best odds (+700) to win MVP after finishing behind directly Nikola Jokic in last season’s award race. In Embiid’s extended absence, those odds dropped to +2000 odds and it’s hard to see a path towards a first-place finish given the ground he’d need to make up.
While Embiid’s individual achievements may be put on hold for the time being, his return will most certainly have an impact on the outlook of his team.
76ers‘ Joel Embiid (COVID-19) and Tobias Harris (hip) will return to lineup tonight vs. Minnesota.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 27, 2021
Embiid’s return couldn’t come at a better time for the Sixers. To put it simply, they’ve been bad lately. The star-talent deplete squad has struggled in recent weeks and has gone 2-7 since the 2020-21 MVP runner-up last played a game. But as he makes his return to the lineup, it may be a good time to get in on Philly’s +900 odds to win the East, odds that should only improve with a healthy Embiid.
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