Sixers

Joel Embiid Plays 46 Minutes, Drops a Triple-Double, Trolls Furkan Korkmaz, and Jokes About Having a Second Child

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jan 23rd, 2026 · 9:23 AM EST

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Sixers 128, Rockets 122. Great overtime game in South Philly.

Tyrese Maxey poured in 36 points while Joel Embiid dropped a 32, 15, and 10 triple-double in 46 minutes, which was the most time he’s spent on the floor since the Knicks playoff series back in 2024.

Afterward, he joked about and then trolled Furkan Korkmaz on IG:

After a big game on the anniversary of his 70 point game, Joel Embiid said he might have to make this an even more special date.

“Maybe I should have a baby on January 22nd…me and my wife when i get home, we’re probably going to talk about, start making those calculations” pic.twitter.com/6ShOLPislI

— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) January 23, 2026

Former Sixers' player Furkan Korkmaz said back in Sept. 2025: "Until now I thought Joel Embiid was the best player, best center I was playing with, but I think we can tell it's Alperen Sengun now"

Embiid just posted his staredown of Sengun with the caption "Furk…" on IG pic.twitter.com/pMzG60PdNs

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) January 23, 2026

Embiid is laughing and joking and trolling, which is a good indicator of where he is physically and mentally. We’re in the best stretch of Joel basketball since early 2024, as he’s now averaging 33.8 minutes per game and 27.2 PPG in the month of January. The Sixers are 7-3 in the ten games Embiid has played, and 1-1 without him, both of those games the second half of back-to-backs against Toronto and Phoenix. He’s adding 8.1 rebounds per game, 4.2 assists, and while the turnover numbers fluctuate, he has 3.7 on average this month. It was 3.4 turnovers per game during his MVP season, and that’s just how it’s gonna be when a big center has such a high usage rate. But anything under 4 is manageable.

The Eastern Conference is really jumbled right now. Detroit is 5.5 up on Boston, but between the Celtics and Heat there’s only five games separating seeds two through eight. The Sixers are 5th with a 24-19 record and a favorable schedule coming up. There’s a chance to build some momentum with games against the Knicks, Hornets, Bucks, Kings, and Pelicans, four of those five taking place at home.

Most importantly, the Sixers seem to be doing a good job managing Embiid’s health. He’s sitting out these back-to-backs and playing 30+ minutes on average when he is out there, and it’s been working well so far. It’s about “landing the plane” as Brett Brown used to say, getting to the playoffs with a healthy Joel for the first time in forever. That’s what’s important. Win and get in, then see what happens.