LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Joel Embiid scored 41 points in a dazzling return from injury as the Philadelphia 76ers romped past the Houston Rockets, 124-115.

Kicking off a packed slate of National Basketball Association fixtures as the United States marked the Martin Luther King Jr. public holiday, the Sixers were always in control as they cruised to victory.

Embiid missed the Sixers' past three games after twisting his left knee in a 5 January defeat to the New York Knicks.

But the NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player showed no sign of rustiness as he posted his seventh 40-point game of the season, adding 10 rebounds and three assists.

Embiid shot 12-of-21 from the field and was near-perfect from the foul line, making 16 of 17 free throws in a comfortable win for the Sixers, who improved to 25-13 to remain in third place in the Eastern Conference.

Embiid's performance also extended a remarkable scoring streak.

The 29-year-old has now gone 16 consecutive games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the second-longest streak of its kind in NBA history. Only Wilt Chamberlain is ahead of Embiid and Abdul-Jabbar.

Embiid received scoring support in Monday's rout from Tyrese Maxey with 27 points while Patrick Beverley added 11 from the bench and Tobias Harris 10.

Jalen Green led Houston's scoring with 20 points while Alperen Sengun finished with 19.