The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 123-112 on Thursday night to improve to 10-3, but the main focus after the game was the health of center Joel Embiid. Head coach Nick Nurse acknowledged that Embiid's mobility appeared to drop off over the last few games, though he said the big man showed encouraging signs against Toronto.

Nurse said it was nice to see Embiid's movement spark return, adding that he felt pretty good when driving the ball. Embiid had recently revealed he had been playing through plantar fasciitis for several weeks, saying, "You feel it on the court, so it surely does not help."S2

Embiid's physical problems continued during the week. In Tuesday's blowout loss to the Boston Celtics, he took a hard fall under the rim and limped to the locker room before returning to start the second half. Against the Raptors, he collided with Ja'Kobe Walter while setting a screen in the first quarter and went down pointing to his right knee. Medical staff helped him to the locker room, but he eventually returned to the game.S1S2

Despite the scares, Embiid finished with 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting, four rebounds and three assists, and he made six of seven free throws. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 27 points and eight assists, while Anfernee Simons made five of six 3-pointers for 17 points.S2

The Sixers face a back-to-back next, playing the Indiana Pacers on Sunday and the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, a stretch that could give Philadelphia an opportunity to manage Embiid's workload.S2