The Philadelphia 76ers traveled to Charlotte on Monday, looking to keep their momentum rolling following a win over the Atlanta Hawks. Despite being without five rotation players because of health and safety protocols, the Hornets did not roll over easily.

They brought the fight to the Sixers and took the game into overtime. Their valiant effort was all for naught in the end, as the Sixers managed to walk away with a 127-124 victory.

Joel Embiid was without a doubt the player of the game from this matchup. His initial return to action was a bit shaky, but the All-Star center appears to be finding his stride. In 40 minutes of action, Embiid posted 43 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.

Due to being shorthanded, the Hornets found themselves with a lack of size in the frontcourt. Knowing this, Embiid did damage around the rim. Anytime Charlotte tried to go small, he made them pay for it with some old-fashioned bully-ball.

What stood out most from this performance was Embiid's efficiency. It took him just 20 field goal attempts to break the 40-point mark. Not to mention, he connected on 15 of those 20 attempts. He also shot a stellar 12-for-14 from the free-throw line. Embiid has struggled to find his shooting touch this season, but you couldn't tell on Monday.

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Following the overtime victory, multiple players praised Embiid for his dominant showing. Tobias Harris spoke first, crediting his All-Star teammate for being able to deliver in pivotal moments.

Via Lauren Rosen's postgame interview:

“He's dominant. The way that he impacts the game offensively, he's a shotmaker. He's the guy that we go to when we need a bucket, and he delivers for us.”

Later on, Shake Milton shrugged off the masterclass from the team's starting center. Being around so long, he knows this level of dominance is nothing new for a player like Embiid.

Via Rosen:

“It’s not even surprising at this point. The things he’s able to do. It’s unreal. To be that big and have the skills that he has.”

Last season, Embiid was arguably the most dominant player in the league. His showing against the Hornets was a reminder of how much damage he can do on the floor once he gets rolling.

Harris brought up a crucial point during his availability. This game is the second time in a row Embiid has delivered in the clutch to seal a victory for the Sixers. On Friday, he hit a mid-range shot over Clint Capela in the final 40 seconds to put the Sixers up two. Then, in overtime against the Hornets, Embiid scored or assisted on all eight of the team's points.

These are the types of showings teams want from their franchise cornerstone. In true superstar fashion, Embiid has put the team on his back and is doing whatever is needed to keep them in the win column.