PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid returned to the court for a workout on Friday, the 76ers said Saturday, though it was separate from the team as the All-Star center looks to return from a right oblique strain.

Coach Nick Nurse said that Embiid went through an individual workout as part of building back from the injury suffered Feb. 26 against Miami. Saturday’s 104-97 win over the Brooklyn Nets was the eighth straight game Embiid has missed.

Nurse said “there’s a chance” Embiid might be available on the three-game roadtrip on which the 76ers embark this week, to Denver, Sacramento and Utah. He won’t play in Sunday’s back-to-back against Portland.

“He’s got to just feel a little bit better, get on the court a little bit, a little conditioning,” Nurse said.

Nurse expressed optimism that the time off might ease the nagging injury management to both of Embiid’s knees but said that hasn’t been a conversation yet. Embiid has been working in the weight room on those issues, Nurse said.

Embiid had played 20 of 25 games until early February, when he reported soreness in his right shin associated with his right knee injury management. He missed five games, returned for two, then got a kick to the ribs from the Heat’s Kel’el Ware that turned into the current strain.

Embiid has played 33 games, averaging 26.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. The 76ers are 21-12 with him in the lineup, 15-19 without.

The 76ers remain without Tyrese Maxey (finger) and Kelly Oubre (elbow) for at least the next couple of weeks. March 25 is the first day that Paul George can return from his 25-game suspension.

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The 2025-26 season has been up and down for Justin Edwards. The second-year pro played all of 75 minutes in January and 86 in February. Establishing a rhythm has not been easy.

So it was vital Saturday that Edwards found a way to do that in scoring 19 points to lead the shorthanded 76ers past the possibly-but-for-legal-reasons-not-totally tanking Nets.

“You’ve just got to stay ready and waiting for my name to be called,” the Philly native said. “Some days it might not get called, some days it might get called. So, just staying patient and just staying ready. Honestly, that’s how I’ve been approaching this season.”

When he has been called upon, it’s usually been three-and-D minutes, ready to hoist 3-pointers from the wing. Saturday, his 19 points weren’t just his second-most of the season. It’s the most he’s scored in an NBA game without a made 3-pointer.

He hit five 5-pointers against Boston on Nov. 11 when he scored 22, his season-best. He was 9-for-10 on 2-pointers Saturday.

“He, like everybody, goes through the tough parts of, OK, he’s starting, and then all of a sudden, three guys come back from injury, and then he gets a DNP,” Nurse said. “That’s kind of a far leap sometimes. He had some ups and downs with that, but that’s been a while now. He kind of understands where he’s at, and he’s always ready to go. I don’t think it bothers him as much.”

Edwards had eight points in the first half. His defense was a vital part of keeping the Nets to just 31 points, the second-lowest first-half total in the NBA this season.

When the third-quarter 76ers kicked in and the Nets inevitably whittled a 28-point lead down to 1 and briefly took the lead, Edwards had an answer. Tyson Etienne’s 3-pointer put the Nets up 87-86 with 3:23 left. Two possession later, Edwards drove to the hoop for a tough basket.

His ability to score in the lane was instrumental on a day when the 76ers shot a ghastly 3-for-25 from 3-point range.

“That shot is open a lot in the mid-range,” Edwards said. “I feel like we should shoot that more. But just take the open shot, honestly. If it’s open, it’s open.”

Edwards added a team-high three steals, but two of 10 blocks and four rebounds.

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NOTES >> Jabari Walker was a late scratch due to illness. Andre Drummond missed his third straight game with back spasms. … That left the 76ers with only two bigs. Adem Bona played 32 minutes, with nine points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Dominick Barlow paired 10 points with eight boards. … The 76ers were 3-for-25 from 3-point range. It’s one of only six games this season in the NBA in which one team has hit three or fewer triples – the Mavericks have done it three times, including against the 76ers on Dec. 20, and the Magic have done it twice. Only the 76ers on Saturday and the Magic (at Indiana, Dec. 31) have won those games. The Sixers also hit four 3-pointers in the Jan. 9 win over Orlando in which the Magic also hit four.