Johnson hits late 3s for Hawks to spoil Embiid’s 76ers return in 142-134 double-OT win – Winnipeg Free Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Johnson hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in double overtime and finished with 41 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Atlanta Hawks spoil Joel Embiid's comeback in a 142-134 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night.

Embiid scored 18 points in 30 minutes in his return for the 76ers after missing nine games with injuries.

Johnson tied the game with his third trey of the game and hit another on the next possession to lead the Hawks to their fourth win in five games.

Tyrese Maxey scored 44 points for the 76ers and made a pair of clutch shots, one of which forced overtime and another that gave them the lead in the first overtime. Maxey, an 88 percent free throw shooter, missed twice from the line that could have pushed the lead to four but instead cost the Sixers in the final seconds of overtime.

76ers' Dominque Barlow was whistled for a foul with 1.1 seconds remaining. Nickeil Alexander-Walker did both, tying the game at 126 and sending it to a second overtime.

Alexander-Walker had 34 points and eight rebounds.

Embiid last played in the 76ers' win over Toronto on Nov. 8 and was officially ruled out the following night against Detroit after not being cleared to play one-on-one while recovering from April surgery on his left knee. The 2023 NBA MVP, the 76ers said it was Embiid's right knee pain that kept him from playing until Sunday.

The 76ers played with their All-Star trio Embiid, the oft-injured Paul George and Maxey, in the starting lineup for the first time this season. George scored 16 points.

Quentin Grimes scored 28 points for the Sixers.

The Hawks opened the fourth with a 13-0 run that put them up seven and in control until Maxey led the Sixers' late attack.