By February last year, Sixers center Joel Embiid had already played his final game of the season. He was shut down due to injury.
It's Feb. 2 and Embiid is still healthy, he's played the most games and minutes in his basketball career, and statistically he's never been better. Few in the NBA have been better this season, really -- Embiid is averaging 23.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 blocks per game.
The Sixers intend to allow Embiid to play the first back-to-back games of his career this weekend, starting with Friday night's game at Wells Fargo Center against the Heat, followed by Saturday night's game on the road against the Indiana Pacers.