PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid returned to the starting lineup for the 76ers on Sunday against Atlanta after he missed the last nine games in large part because of a sore right knee.

The 76ers took the Hawks to two overtimes, but fell 142-134 when Jalen Johnson (career-high 41 points) took control of the finish. Embiid played 30 minutes, scoring 18 points on 6-for-14 shooting while pulling down four rebounds and adding a steal and a block.

Embiid had played in only six of 20 games and averaged 19.7 points and 5.5 rebounds for a Sixers team that has hovered around .500 without him. The 76ers are now 4-3 with Embiid.

The 76ers upgraded Embiid to questionable on the injury report on Sunday afternoon and the two-time NBA scoring champion was cleared to play after his pregame workout.

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