Joel Embiid is "just happy to touch the basketball" after making his first Philadelphia 76ers appearance since mid-February following knee surgery.

The 76ers beat the reserves of the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-110 in their final preseason game, earning their first win after three straight losses.

But the biggest boost for Philadelphia was the return of Embiid, who was back on the court for the first time in nearly eight months after recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

He managed to play 19 minutes, scoring 14 points, as well as getting seven rebounds and eight assists. Embiid finished on 5-for-10 shooting, hitting both of his free throws.

"I don't want to really think about the past," Embiid said. "I'm just in a good space mentally, physically.

"I'm just happy to touch the basketball and be able to play basketball and do what I love.

"When you don't get [to do] that, it's tough, but that's what I'm most happy about. So, that's all I kept thinking about. I'm on the court playing basketball, doing some good things, helping us win, and, yeah, that's really what I was focused on."

bucket from the big fella. pic.twitter.com/hq4pxcZcS4

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 17, 2025

Embiid played just 19 games last season, averaging 23.8 points in that time, but his injury-plagued season stopped him from building any momentum.

Tyrese Maxey was the top scorer for the 76ers on Friday with 27 points, with V.J. Edgecombe getting 26 and Quentin Grimes, who made his preseason debut, getting 22.

But Maxey was focused on Embiid's return to the team, and he was delighted to see the 31-year-old back on the court.

"I think the biggest thing that I felt was just joy, and just how happy he [Embiid] was to be out there and how happy I was for him to be out there," said Maxey.

"The first thing I asked him before we went out there, I was like, 'Hey, are you excited?' He was like, 'Man, I'm so excited just to be out there to play'. So, I'm happy for him."