Sixers News: Joel Embiid’s Injury ‘More Serious’ After Evaluation
In this story:
The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t had much to say publicly about Joel Embiid’s latest injury heading into the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
Following the Game 3 matchup of the first-round series between the Sixers and the Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers mentioned that Embiid was battling through knee soreness and experienced swelling. That led the Sixers to schedule an MRI for the All-Star center.
The Sixers ruled Embiid out for the Game 4 matchup in Brooklyn due to a sprained knee. A few days later, ESPN reports indicated that Embiid was dealing with an LCL sprain.
On Thursday, Embiid had a doctors appointment to receive a re-evaluation. When Doc Rivers addressed the media for the first time since that appointment, there weren’t any further updates in regard to a diagnosis.
“There is no latest. Obviously, doctors looked at him... He didn’t do anything today,” Rivers said on Saturday. “I’ll say this; If I was a betting man, I would probably say doubtful, but we’ll see.”
Not long after Rivers revealed that Embiid was likely to be listed as doubtful for Monday’s Game 1 matchup against the Boston Celtics, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Embiid’s injury is considered to be “more serious” than a Grade 1 LCL sprain.
While the latest report from Charania hints that Embiid’s setback might be slightly worse than initially thought, Embiid’s status hasn’t necessarily changed. He’s still going to be viewed as doubtful heading into Game 1, and the door for a potential return will be left open at the start of the second round.
When the Sixers played without Embiid last Saturday in their Game 4 elimination matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, they started Paul Reed while sprinkling in PJ Tucker and Montrezl Harrell at the five spot behind him.
The Sixers found success with Reed in the starting lineup and defeated the Nets to eliminate them from the playoffs.
While the Celtics in the second round will be a different beast, Reed enters the second round much more confident in his ability to compete with the Sixers’ starters. Meanwhile, Embiid will hope to feel better physically sooner than later, so he can make his return to the court.
