One of the key to success in the NBA playoffs is keeping everyone healthy, but the Philadelphia 76ers have concern right now over Joel Embiid.
The center suffered a knee injury in the first round series against the Brooklyn Nets, and is now a doubt for the heavyweight series between the 76ers and the Boston Celtics.
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Embiid is doubtful for the Game One, but he could miss even more games than that and he might not be able to perform at his best even if he does return.
Although the Sixers have had the most rest between rounds, it may not be enough to get their star back.
“If I was a betting man, I would probably say doubtful for at least Game One, but we’ll see,” Doc Rivers said on Saturday.
“He has to get better. He did nothing today, as he just wasn’t able to, and obviously we were hopeful for today.”
Joel Embiid’s knee injury
Embiid suffered a sprained right knee in Game Three against the Nets, didn’t play in Game Four, when he wasn’t needed anyway.
He has been trying to recover ever since. He was diagnosed with a grade one sprain at the time, but there are fears that the injury could be more serious.
This has eclipsed all the optimism that was in place at the Wells Fargo Center, where the team had started the playoffs so well.
This isn’t the first health issue for Embiid in the playoffs, as the NBA’s leading scorer also missed two second round games last year and one more in the first round in 2021.
