Embiid returns with 34 in win, will sit again Sat.

Sixers star Joel Embiid was in top form in his return to the starting lineup Friday night, scoring a game-high 34 points to lead Philadelphia to a 108-98 victory over the visiting Charlotte Hornets.

Embiid, back after a one-game absence due to a sinus fracture, will sit out the second leg of the Sixers’ back-to-back on Saturday in Cleveland, according to head coach Nick Nurse.

Sporting a black protective mask Friday night, Embiid scored 24 of his points in the second half for the Sixers, who have won four of their past five games. He was 12-of-24 from the field and added 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 31 minutes.

Embiid was injured last Friday when he was struck in the face by Indiana‘s Bennedict Mathurin while going for a defensive rebound. He sat out his team’s 121-108 victory over the Hornets on Monday.

Friday marked just the seventh game this season for Embiid, who has been plagued by a sore knee.