PHILADELPHIA -- It took an extra three weeks, but Joel Embiid's regular season finally is underway ... it quickly shifted to Towns -- the central New Jersey native playing his first game in the rivalry -- who had one of his best all-around performances ...

Ignore the standings. Forget the losses. Overlook the injuries. Even disregard the third-quarter scoring droughts that frequently occur during games. After spending the first three weeks of the NBA season mired in substandard play,

If he is not suspended for his altercation with a reporter, Joel Embiid is targeting a return to the court for the 76ers this week.

Joel Embiid and Paul George will each miss a fifth straight game with knee injuries when the Sixers host Memphis on Saturday.

Joel Embiid and Paul George are not ready to play in a regular-season game but did practice and participate in a full-court scrimmage with the 76ers on Friday in what the team framed as a sign of progress.

Joel Embiid returned to a rousing ovation from 76ers fans in his first game of the season, a start marred by injuries and suspension to the All-Star center that kept Philadelphia anchored at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Joel Embiid claims he could play against the Cavaliers on the second night of a back-to-back after the loss against the Knicks.

"He is the piece. He is The Process," Paul George said of his Philly co-star, who made his season debut Tuesday.

Joel Embiid stuck around for extra work after shootaround. The 7-footer who has yet to officially step on the court for the Philadelphia 76ers this season was in no rush to finish his drills. Embiid shot free throws,

Embiid played 26 minutes in the losing effort, scoring 13 points and adding five assists and three rebounds. He made only two of his 11 shot attempts, hitting an open 3-pointer of