The Philadelphia 76ers are “hopeful” star center Joel Embiid will be able to return for their first-round series against the Boston Celtics less than a month removed from his emergency appendectomy. Embiid, who began a strength and conditioning program earlier this week, took a big step toward making that timely comeback, participating in parts of the Sixers’ Thursday practice.
On Thursday evening, the team listed him as “doubtful” for Game 3, which will be played Friday night in Philadelphia.
Advertisement
The Sixers knotted the series up 1-1 on Tuesday with a 111-97 win in Boston, bouncing back from a humiliating, 32-point defeat in the opener.
After being diagnosed with appendicitis, Embiid underwent surgery on April 9. Exactly two weeks later, head coach Nick Nurse was asked Thursday about what kind of feedback he’s been receiving from the team’s medical staff about the one-time NBA MVP’s recovery.
“I think sometimes it’s positive, sometimes it’s not so,” Nurse said hours before Embiid’s Game 3 status was announced, via PHLY Sports. “I think there’s work being done, and I think he’s got to do it and do more and get some reactions to it and this and that.
“We’re going to know a lot more probably by the end of today where he is because I think, again, it’s kind of like the work increases a little bit, and then we got to see how he comes out of that stuff.”
Nurse added: “But we obviously are really hopeful, and I think he’s really hopeful. 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 it keeps going that way.”
Nurse explained that the Sixers didn’t do a whole lot on the court during Thursday’s practice, which he noted included extensive film review and consideration of defensive and offensive adjustments.
He likened the practice to a walkthrough, albeit one that was a bit more involved.
Advertisement
Regardless, for the first time since his procedure, Embiid returned to team basketball activity.
Embiid, 32, appeared in fewer than 40 regular-season games for the third campaign in a row.
Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe starred in TD Garden on Tuesday. That backcourt duo is dangerous, but the Sixers are more threatening to the Celtics with Embiid also on the floor. Thursday’s update inspired some optimism in Philly that the veteran big man will rejoin the lineup at some point in a series the Sixers have already extended.
Read the full article here
