Sixers vs. Heat: Was Joel Embiid Present at Shootaround on Thursday?

Did Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid participate in shootaround on Thursday?

Apr 6, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and Miami | Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

After getting the day off for travel on Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers are gearing up for a Thursday night matchup against the Miami Heat on the road.

Following Tuesday night’s victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Sixers are once again left wondering about the playing status of their All-Star center, Joel Embiid.

According to the Sixers’ initial injury report, Embiid is considered questionable. Following Tuesday’s game at home, Embiid noted that his status in most games moving forward will all depend on how his body responds to practice sessions and games.

A morning shootaround session in Miami could help Embiid and the Sixers get a better idea of his status on Thursday.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey, Embiid was present at the session on Thursday, which is a positive sign.

While shootaround availability could hint at a player’s potential playing status, recent history shows that’s not always the case. When the Sixers gathered for a morning shootaround on Tuesday at home, Embiid was not considered a participant. At that point, he was ruled out on the injury report, which signaled another potential absence for the All-Star.

However, the Sixers changed the narrative later on. A couple of hours before the game started up, Embiid was upgraded to questionable. He went through two pregame workouts before getting cleared for action.

Against the Thunder, Embiid produced 24 points, six rebounds, and seven assists in 29 minutes of action. He was impactful on both ends, but felt he has a lot of work to do during this final stretch of games.

The Sixers and the Heat will tip-off at 7:30 PM ET. Embiid’s playing status is currently unclear.

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