Player grades: Joel Embiid returns as Sixers beat Wolves in preseason

Tyrese Maxey: A

The Timberwolves had zero answer for Maxey when he put his head down and attacked the basket. He did a terrific job of finding the openings and attacking the basket before finishing up and around Minnesota’s big men. He played through contact for And-1s. After a slow start with his jumper, Maxey was able to convert on some looks from beyond the arc to keep things moving in the right direction. He looked to be in midseason form with his ability to get into the paint and make things happen for Philadelphia.

VJ Edgecombe: A-minus

The athleticism really pops off the page for Edgecombe. His first two buckets came off him just reading the play and then exploding to the basket. First, an offensive rebound for a put back and then driving baseline and rising up for a slam. He had a tough night defensively against Minnesota’s Rob Dillingham, but Edgecombe had a solid night offensively. The 3-point shot is certainly a work in progress, but he played well in other facets of the game.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: C-minus

It was a tough night for Oubre to say the least. A lot of his drives in this one appeared to be out of control and he was unable to convert on the few open looks he was able to get. For his one first half bucket, he cut well and Embiid found him for a layup, but overall, it was a tough night for him.

Adem Bona: B

This was another solid Bona game. He was terrific around the basket on either end of the floor as he had a couple of easy buckets due to his soft touch and he protected the rim on the defensive end. He picked up a silly foul in the early going, but other than that, he played a solid basketball game. One has to wonder if he will start on opening night on Wednesday.

Joel Embiid: A

It took four seconds for Embiid to get a shot up. He missed a 3, but efficiency! In all seriousness, the big fella looked pretty good for this being his first NBA action since February. He looked active on the defensive end, he moved well up and down the floor, he was making plays with his passing, knocked down some 3s, and he looked like his usual self. He had a bit of a scare when he was called for an offensive foul on a reckless drive, but he did get up rather quickly and keep it pushing. Now, the waiting part comes. How will he respond to the minutes he played in this one?

Dominick Barlow: A

Coming off the bench in this one, Barlow was terrific. He had an impressive move to the basket shaking off a defender and then powering through the contact for an And-1 before then scoring in transition due to his speed and athleticism. He badly missed an open 3, but there were a lot of positives to his game in this one. Still on a two-way deal, one has to believe he will be converted at some point.

Quentin Grimes: A

It was a slow start for Grimes in his return to the team. He was unable to find much offensive rhythm in the first half, but he was moving well without the basketball and found open spots on the floor. The Sixers will take a tough offensive game as long as he is getting to his spots within the offense. The same looks he was missing in the first half, he was able to convert on as the game wore on. He eventually was able to find that rhythm and score in bunches. An overall solid game for the 4-year guard out of Houston in his first game back after signing the qualifying offer.

Jabari Walker: B-minus

This is the Walker the Sixers are looking for. He was running the floor, did a great job of filling lanes, and got himself an easy basket just off running the break. He was active on the glass and efficient with his offense. There were a few too many drives in this one, but he was solid. Welcome to Philadelphia, Mr. Walker.