Ariel Hukporti tore his Achilles in his preseason debut, leaving the 76ers short at center.

With three fouls late in the first half, Embiid suggested LeBron James close out the second quarter in the middle.

“I wasn't going to be as aggressive as I should be on defense, having three fouls,” Embiid said.

James often guarded Karl-Anthony Towns while Embiid took Josh Hart. “Over the long haul, it was very good for us,” Nick Nurse said.

“I think this year's going to be back to All-Defensive team like in the past,” said Embiid, who had three blocks.

Tyrese Maxey had 16 first-half points and finished with a team-high 28 in the win at New York.

Photo by Keith Allison, CC-BY-SA-2.0. Joel Embiid in 2018.

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