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Sixers' Joel Embiid hopes to play in back-to-backs by end of month

The Sixers' only back-to-back situation this month will be Jan 28 at Oklahoma City and Jan. 29 at Milwaukee.

Sixers’ center Joel Embiid is hoping to increase his workload to include playing in back-to-backs this month.
Sixers’ center Joel Embiid is hoping to increase his workload to include playing in back-to-backs this month.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
    by Keith Pompey | Columnist
    Published 

BOSTON – The 76ers will tell you there's no timeline for Joel Embiid to be cleared to play on back-to-back nights.

However, the center, who wants to play every night, has a time in mind.

"I just need not to take days off," Embiid said after Thursday's shoot-around for that night's game against Boston Celtics at TD Garden. "It's not on me. It's on the medical staff. But hopefully, back-to-backs by the end of this month, I will be allowed to play."

The Sixers' only remaining back-to-back situation this month will come Jan. 28 at the Oklahoma City Thunder and Jan. 29 at the Milwaukee Bucks. He has missed at least one game of the five back-to-back situations they've already had this season.

In all, Embiid has missed nine games total because of rest, back tightness and knee rehabilitation. The 23-year-old underwent left knee surgery in March. Embiid, who's still getting in shape, said he was at 81 percent of where he wants to be.

"I'm getting there," said Embiid, who recently started scrimmaging at the team's practices.