Joel Embiid participates in parts of practice for first time since undergoing appendectomy
Coach Nick Nurse said the Sixers could “know a lot more” about Embiid’s status by the end of Thursday.
Joel Embiid participated in parts of practice Thursday, the 76ers said, as he continues to recover from an April 9 appendectomy while his team faces the Boston Celtics in a first-round playoff series.
Coach Nick Nurse said the Sixers could “know a lot more” about Embiid’s status by the end of Thursday. The NBA’s mandatory injury report for Friday’s Game 3 at Xfinity Mobile Arena will be released at 5 p.m. The best-of-seven series is tied at a game apiece after the Sixers responded to Sunday’s blowout loss with an impressive win Tuesday.
“Obviously, we’re really hopeful,” Nurse said after practice. “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. And let’s hope it keeps going that way.”
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Embiid began a strength and conditioning program in Philly on Monday, then progressed to on-court work before Thursday’s team session. Nurse described the day’s work primarily as a double film session, with on-court activities described as “not much more” than a walk-through.
Nurse said feedback from the Sixers’ medical staff about Embiid’s recovery has ranged from “sometimes it’s positive [to] sometimes it’s not so.” The coach added they are monitoring how Embiid’s body reacts to an increased physical workload.
The average time missed by NBA players for an appendectomy is 23 days, according to Jeff Stotts’ In Street Clothes injury database. That timeline falls on May 2, the day of a hypothetical Game 7 of this first-round series.
Embiid averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 38 games during the regular season. He had a particularly dominant — and available — stretch from mid-December through early February. But this is his latest injury-impacted season, when he also dealt with an oblique strain in his side, a shin stress reaction, and issues with both knees.
At shootaround before Tuesday’s Game 2 victory, rookie teammate VJ Edgecombe emphasized that Embiid returning to full health is the top priority.
“If he gets to come back before our season is over,” Edgecombe said, “or whatever run we make — who knows what happens? — it would be great. But I just hope he’s not being rushed by anybody or pressured by anybody to return. His health is the most important thing.”
Series tied 1-1
Game 1: Celtics 123, Sixers 91 | Murphy: Early offseason?
Game 2: Sixers 111, Celtics 97 | Murphy: Edgecombe steps up
Game 3: Celtics at Sixers, 7 p.m. Friday, Prime Video
Game 4: Celtics at Sixers, 7 p.m. Sunday, NBC/Peacock
*Game 5: Sixers at Celtics, TBD Tuesday
*Game 6: Celtics at Sixers, TBD April 30
*Game 7: Sixers at Celtics, TBD May 2
* If necessary
