76ers' Joel Embiid Addresses Game 2 Playing Status vs. Celtics

On Wednesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers will return to the floor at TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Heading into Game 1, a lot of questions surrounded the availability of the Sixers’ star big man, Joel Embiid. As Embiid injured his knee during the first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets, he missed the fourth and final matchup of the series.

On Monday, Embiid was listed as doubtful in Game 1 against the Celtics due to a knee sprain. Although many hoped Embiid would feel good enough to play after a ten-day break for the Sixers, that wasn’t the case. Embiid was ruled out for the second time this postseason.

“Obviously, it’s hard dealing with another injury, but when something like that happens, you got about a day to be sad or whatever and start going back to work,” Embiid said during his MVP press conference on Wednesday morning.

“We have been trying to make sure we do everything possible to be able to get back on the floor. Obviously, it’s earlier than we thought, considering what I had. I’m just glad to be able to go up and down and see how it feels. We’re just going to take it day-by-day, see how it feels and go from there.”

Going into Game 2, Embiid is once again listed as doubtful. On Tuesday, Sixers head coach Doc Rivers mentioned that Embiid would take part in a workout to see how he feels during and after. Hours later, Embiid reportedly told his teammates that he was “back,” signaling a potential return in Game 2.

However, the big man won’t confirm his playing status for Game 2 just yet.

“It’s a possibility — just like it was a possibility in the first game — I’m going to listen to [the doctors] and see what they have to say,” he explained.

“Obviously, I want to play. Everybody knows me, I just love being on the court, and I just love to play. There’s a possibility, and if I got the green light and then we’re going to go head, but like I said, we’re just gonna talk about it. I feel pretty good. Just like I felt about the first game. I felt like we had a huge opportunity and that we were gonna win. Tonight, whether I play or not, I believe in those guys. Anything can happen, and I think we got a huge chance to win the game.”

The Sixers and the Celtics are set to begin Game 2 at 8:00 PM on Wednesday. After Sixers guard James Harden led the Sixers to victory with a 45-point outing, the team is confident they can defeat Boston without the MVP center on the floor.

However, if Embiid is healthy enough to play, they will surely embrace the opportunity to have their MVP center back out on the court, helping them compete in Game 2 as they look to take a 2-0 lead.