76ers’ Joel Embiid Felt ‘Good Enough’ vs. Mavericks

Dealing with calf tightness for the last week, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has to be as cautious as possible as the regular season winds down.

Considering Embiid has battled his fair share of injuries in the postseason over the years, the big man hopes to avoid any notable setbacks for this year’s run as the Sixers have championship aspirations.

Following last Saturday’s game between the Sixers and the Phoenix Suns, a sluggish Embiid admitted that he needed a night off soon. He got what he requested on Monday.

Although Embiid’s absence in the matchup between the Sixers and the Denver Nuggets disappointed fans, the big man needed to block out the noise and ensure he doesn’t overwork his calf.

After getting a night off on Monday and Tuesday, Embiid was back out on the floor Wednesday night to take on the Dallas Mavericks. After the game, Embiid discussed the state of his calf.

“[It feels] good enough,” he told reporters. “Obviously, I didn’t play my best game tonight, but we got the win. So, I’ll keep healing it and making sure it’s right.”

Checking in for 33 minutes, Embiid led his team in scoring by producing 25 points, making eight of his 17 shots, and going 8-9 from the free throw line.

Along with his scoring, Embiid came down with nine rebounds while also producing three assists, snatching one steal, and blocking one shot.

The big man’s contributions on both ends of the floor helped the Sixers seal a win over the Mavericks. Embiid’s calf will be closely monitored during the final six games of the regular season, but it seems the All-Star center is healthy enough to keep pushing through the regular season as the Sixers look to master their on-court chemistry before playoffs.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.