Embiid's First Dunk Sparks Sixers' Dominant Win Over Knicks

Embiid's long-awaited dunk highlights Philadelphia's resurgence as they climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:38am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the energy and movement of a basketball game, with players' bodies and the ball breaking down into abstract geometric shapes and planes of vibrant colors.Embiid's emphatic dunk symbolizes the Sixers' resurgence as they climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff race.Philadelphia Today

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New York Knicks 130-119, with Joel Embiid finally unleashing his first dunk of the season in a symbolic moment for the team's resurgence. Embiid downplayed the dunk, but his teammates and coach celebrated the milestone as the Sixers pushed five games above .500 for the first time this season.

Why it matters

Embiid's dunk was more than just a highlight - it represented the Sixers' climb back to relevance in the Eastern Conference after a slow start to the season. With key players nearing returns from injury, the team is poised to reach full strength and make a push up the standings.

The details

In the Sixers' 130-119 victory over the Knicks, Joel Embiid scored 26 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists. His first dunk of the season came as a symbolic moment, though Embiid himself brushed it off as 'whatever.' His teammates and coach, however, celebrated the milestone, with rookie VJ Edgecombe joking that Embiid 'actually got up a little bit,' and Tyrese Maxey teasing Embiid about wanting lob passes. Coach Nick Nurse also poked fun, saying Embiid got the dunk in a 'cheap way.'

  • The Sixers' win over the Knicks on January 4, 2026 pushed their record to 19-14, five games above .500 for the first time this season.

The players

Joel Embiid

The star center for the Philadelphia 76ers, who scored 26 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and recorded his first dunk of the season in the win over the Knicks.

VJ Edgecombe

A rookie for the Philadelphia 76ers who matched Embiid's 26-point performance in the win.

Tyrese Maxey

The Philadelphia 76ers guard who led the team with 36 points and joked with Embiid about throwing him lob passes.

Nick Nurse

The head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers who poked fun at Embiid's dunk, calling it a 'cheap way' of getting it.

Paul George

The Philadelphia 76ers player who believes the team's chemistry is their secret weapon, saying 'We trust in the process' and 'We're starting to enjoy the game and gel as a unit.'

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What they’re saying

“It was whatever”

— Joel Embiid

“He actually got up a little bit”

— VJ Edgecombe, Rookie

“Now he's telling me to throw him a lob. We'll see how that goes.”

— Tyrese Maxey

“It was a pretty cheap way of getting it, but at least we know he can still dunk.”

— Nick Nurse, Head Coach

“We trust in the process. We're starting to enjoy the game and gel as a unit.”

— Paul George

What’s next

With 11 of their next 15 games at home, the Sixers face a pivotal stretch that could define their season and their status as true contenders in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

Embiid's resurgence and the Sixers' dominant win over the Knicks highlight the team's potential to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. However, the true test will come during their upcoming home-heavy schedule, which will determine if this is a turning point or just a footnote in a long season.