Joel Embiid returns from a knee injury to lead a Sixers comeback win over Oklahoma City Thunder

Joel Embiid got up from the bench with less than five minutes to play, his Sixers suddenly surging back against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In that final stretch, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player sank a game-tying jumper. He flew in to challenge a shot at the rim. He grabbed an offensive rebound, then lured the foul, then sank the go-ahead free throws.

And with less than 30 seconds to play, Embiid swiped the ball from Josh Giddey, and again drew contact while barreling toward the opposite basket.

Embiid totaled a game-high 24 points — including four game-clinching free throws as “MVP!” chants once again rang through the Wells Fargo Center — six rebounds, and seven assists in his return from a two-month absence following knee surgery, propelling the Sixers to a 109-105 comeback victory.

“I was happy I got the last stop in the game, because I think I’m the best defender in the league,” Embiid said of that steal. “Just want to be out there, provide space for everybody, attract attention and get guys wide-open.”

After the game, Embiid acknowledged the injury “took a toll mentally” and caused him to feel “depressed.” But Tuesday was an important step. Embiid played about half of the first two quarters, then re-entered for the stretch run of each period. He missed five of his first eight shots, but went 12-of-12 from the free-throw line and he flashed the inside-outside offensive game that made him the league’s most dominant offensive player before his injury. Ten of his points came in the final period.

“It took me a while to get over it, and I still haven’t gotten over it,” Embiid said of the injury. “Just got to take it day-by-day and look at the positive. I’m back, so hopefully, every single day, try to get better and get back to yourself.”

The win allowed the Sixers (41-35) to keep pace in the Eastern Conference postseason picture with six regular-season games remaining. They remained in eighth place in the standings, and 1 ½ games behind the seventh-place Miami Heat (who beat the New York Knicks Tuesday). They trimmed the gap behind the sixth-place Indiana Pacers (who were off Tuesday) to two games.

That sets up a crucial Thursday showdown in Miami for the Sixers.

Though Embiid returned, the matchup was lacking its maximum possible star power. Sixers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey missed his second consecutive game with left hip tightness, while Thunder MVP candidate Shai-Gilgeous Alexander was out with a right quadriceps bruise.

Still, the Sixers hung with an Oklahoma City team that throughout this season has morphed from a feel-good story to a legitimate NBA title threat, sitting atop the Western Conference with a 52-23 record.

They quickly slashed an 11-point fourth-quarter Thunder lead to three on a Paul Reed authoritative dunk with less than five minutes to play, before a Kelly Oubre Jr. steal and dunk got the Sixers within 101-99 with 3:42 to go. Another Oubre and-one slam less than a minute later then put the Sixers up, 104-103, before a Lu Dort putback pushed the Thunder back ahead by one with 53.2 seconds remaining before Embiid’s final free throws

The Sixers initially cut into an Oklahoma City double-digit lead in the third quarter, when a Reed layup got them within three (76-73) with less than two minutes remaining in the period. Then, back-to-back three-pointers by Oubre cut the Thunder’s lead to 80-79 less than two minutes into the final frame. About two minutes later, Nico Batum tied the game at 83 with a dunk.

But the Thunder answered with 11 consecutive points — including an old-fashioned three-point play and rim-rocking dunk by Aaron Wiggins, a deep shot by Gordon Hayward that bounced into the net, and a three-pointer by former Sixer Isaiah Joe — before the Sixers’ decisive rally.

Oubre scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half, and had six rebounds. Tobias Harris added 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists for the Sixers. Reed had 12 points and nine rebounds, while Cameron Payne totaled 10 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists while again occupying Maxey’s spot in the starting lineup.

Oklahoma City closed the second quarter on a 21-9 run — capped by two three-pointers from Joe — to build a 54-44 halftime lead. That advantage grew to 13 points when Lu Dort opened the third quarter with a three-pointer before the Sixers began chipping away to set up the fourth-quarter thriller.

Next up, the Sixers embark on their final road trip of the regular season. Following Thursday’s game in Miami, they will play at the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday and at the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.