In just the second game this season, Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey are on the field at the same time for the 76ers.

After missing the last seven games due to “treatment of a left knee injury” (the same reason he missed 16 games this season), Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers’ starting lineup on Sunday in Chicago.

While Embiid will be on a minutes restriction, this is a step in the right direction for a Philadelphia team that had just won 3 of 4 without her. After a tough start to the season, the 6-15 Sixers are still just 2.5 games out of the final play-in spot in the East and five games away from reaching the No. 6 seed and avoiding the play-in altogether.

Embiid averaged 19.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in the five games he played this season, but shot just 37.9% and didn’t look like himself (or even close to his MVP – or even all-star level). Philadelphia needs him to find his footing over the course of the season and get back to this level by the playoffs if they are to have any chance of making the postseason – and with the hole they dug themselves at the start of the season, they will Any path the 76ers take through the postseason will be brutal.

Embiid has missed 16 games this season. If he misses two more — which is almost certain since he doesn’t play back-to-back — the former MVP will be ineligible for postseason awards since he won’t reach 65 games played.

Embiid and the 76ers aren’t worried about accolades, their focus is on righting the ship and getting into the postseason mix. And keeping Embiid healthy and on the court.