Joel Embiid participates in parts of Sixers’ Thursday practice, listed as doubtful for Game 3 vs. Celtics

Joel Embiid is officially listed as doubtful to play in Friday’s Game 3 of the 76ers’ first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, after he participated in parts of Thursday’s practice while continuing to recover from an April 9 appendectomy.

Coach Nick Nurse said earlier Thursday that the Sixers could “know a lot more” about Embiid’s status by the end of day. 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. And I think he’s really hopeful,” Nurse said after the practice. “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, in which he also dealt with an oblique strain in his side, a shin stress reaction, and issues with both knees.

The appendectomy also is part of a long list of ailments that have sidelined or limited Embiid during the postseason. He played through Bell’s palsy during a 2024 first-round loss to the New York Knicks. In 2023, he missed two playoff games with a knee injury. And in 2022, he played through a torn thumb ligament and then missed two games of a second-round loss to the Miami Heat with an orbital fracture.

An update on Embiid on Monday prompted questions before and after the Sixers’ Game 2 victory.

At shootaround that morning, VJ Edgecombe emphasized that Embiid’s health is the top priority and that “I just hope he’s not being rushed by anybody or pressured by anybody to return.”

After the game, Kelly Oubre Jr. acknowledged that getting Embiid back would “be the biggest lift that we could ask for right now ... but I think he’s doing everything that he can possibly can” for his health.

Then when asked after practice Thursday if Embiid had provided any indication on his recovery timeline, Edgecombe said, “I try not to talk to him about that, because I know everyone else is asking him the same thing.”

“It’s just great to see him around,” Edgecombe added. “Great to see him smiling, talking, because who knows the mental toll it has on him? I’m just glad that he’s OK. It could have been a lot worse.”

Edgecombe playfully said Thursday that his viral wink captured on television during Game 2 was “for whoever wanted it.”

But who was it actually directed at?

A teammate, he says. Either Oubre or Paul George. Edgecombe can’t quite remember.

“He was just in the line of the camera,” Edgecombe said.

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The moment — which occurred after a three-pointer during the rookie’s 30-point outburst in the Sixers’ victory — quickly spread across social media. When teammates caught wind and told Edgecombe in the postgame locker room that he is “always aura-farming,” the standout rookie said he initially did not realize what they were talking about because “I didn’t even remember doing it.”

“They showed me the video, and I was like, ‘It’s just a three?’” Edgecombe said. “Then the wink at the end, I was like, ‘Oh …’”

Justin Edwards did not see the floor during last week’s Play-In Tournament victory over the Orlando Magic, but has become a contributor in this first-round series against Boston. The second-year wing totaled five points and four rebounds in 22 minutes of Game 2, including a key three-pointer that put the Sixers up, 89-82, early in the fourth quarter.

Edwards has been a player whose game Nurse has reiterated that he likes, even when the Philly native has been out of the rotation. Edwards, who averaged 6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 64 regular-season games, prides himself on being a sound decision-maker and in the right spot for the ball to find him. He also had one of his best regular-season performances against the Celtics, scoring 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting (5-of-6 from three-point range) in a Nov. 11 home victory.

Why is he such a fit for this particular matchup?

“They allow you to shoot the ball,” Edwards said of the Celtics. “They help a lot when ‘Rese [Tyrese Maxey] and VJ and P [Paul George] are driving. They tend to throw a lot of guys at them, and … I’m just always in the right spot.

“A lot of times, my defender’s the one that’s helping. They give a lot of threes up.”

NBA playoffs: Sixers vs. Celtics

Celtics lead 3-1

Game 1: Celtics 123, Sixers 91 | Murphy: Early offseason?

Game 2: Sixers 111, Celtics 97 | Murphy: Edgecombe steps up

Game 3: Celtics 108, Sixers 100 | Murphy: Reality of this series

Game 4: Celtics 128, Sixers 96 | Murphy: Maxey should be focus

Game 5: Sixers at Celtics, 7 p.m. Tuesday, ESPN

*Game 6: Celtics at Sixers, TBD Thursday

*Game 7: Sixers at Celtics, TBD Saturday

* If necessary