PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid made a surprise return to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night, back in the starting lineup for Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics only 17 days after having an appendectomy.

Embiid was starting for the first time since April 6, and the two-time NBA scoring champion hopes to spark a Sixers team that trails 2-1 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series.

Embiid was listed as doubtful to start the day and was upgraded to questionable after going through his pregame workout.

The 32-year-old Embiid averaged 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds this season after playing in only 19 games in 2024-25. He hasn’t appeared in as many as 40 games in a regular season since 2022-23, when he averaged a career-best 33.1 points and earned MVP honors.

Embiid had an appendectomy in Houston on April 9 after Philadelphia’s star big man was stricken with appendicitis overnight.