Story by
Joel Embiid injury: Celtics talk potential 76ers big man return
- Story by
- Joel Embiid injury: Celtics talk potential 76ers big man return
PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid is unlikely to play in Game 3 against the Celtics considering he's doubtful, but there's a chance he suits up at some point this first-round series. Embiid was upgraded to doubtful ahead of the 7 p.m. Friday Game 3 as he looks to return from an appendectomy procedure.
It doesn't sound like the Celtics have mulled over a potential Embiid return or not — at least until he's officially available. The series is tied 1-1 after the Sixers upset the Celtics in Game 2 in Boston .
Advertisement
"I don't think we talked about it all," Payton Pritchard said after C's shootaround Friday. "So, if he plays, he plays, we'll figure that out. But it's not like we're sitting here worried if he's playing or not. ... We haven't even game-planned for him yet. So we're focused on who we're playing."
Embiid participated in some parts of Sixers practice Thursday, though it's unclear how much he was able to do on the court. Sixers coach Nick Nurse said it was a low-intensity practice, comparing it to a walkthrough. Still, Embiid getting upgraded to doubtful for Game 3 opens the door to a return at some point.
The Sixers have been without Embiid the past couple weeks after he underwent an emergency appendectomy procedure April 9. It's been a little more than two weeks since then. Game 4 is set for 7 p.m. Sunday, so there could be a chance Embiid plays if he continues his progress.
"You never know until they say he's coming back," Derrick White said. "That's something that we'll address and we'll talk about. But just trying to focus on this game tonight and do what we need to do to get a big win here."
Advertisement
Availability has been the consistent issue throughout Embiid's career. This time, it's an appendectomy that has kept him sidelined to start the playoffs. Embiid has played at an All-Star level when he has played, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 38 games played. But that's less than half the season.
The Sixers have held steady without Embiid in the meantime. They beat the Magic in the play-in tournament to earn the No. 7 seed in the East playoffs. The 76ers were even able to snatch home-court advantage over the Celtics with their Game 2 win. But Boston has been stellar in past playoffs with Game 3s on the road as it looks to bounce back.
"Obviously, we're really hopeful and I think he's really hopeful," Nurse told reporters Thursday . "He wants to play and we want him to play. I don't know how close we are to that at this point, but I think there's some progress being made. Let's hope that it keeps going that way."
More Celtics content
Advertisement
Read the original article on MassLive . Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
