Sixers are ‘hopeful’ that Joel Embiid will return Monday vs. Rockets

Joel Embiid was a full participant in 76ers practice Sunday, and coach Nick Nurse is “hopeful” the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player will be able to return from left knee inflammation for Monday afternoon’s home game against the Houston Rockets.

“We’re not ready to make a call on it yet,” Nurse said following practice. “But we’ll see after his usual pregame [warmup].”

Embiid is officially listed as questionable to play on Sunday night’s injury report. Following practice, he went through extra on-court offensive and defensive work and conditioning sprints with coaches.

Embiid has missed seven of the Sixers’ last nine games with the knee issue and a sprained ankle.

Following the matchup against the Rockets, the Sixers play a marquee showdown against the Denver Nuggets and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic on Tuesday night.

Embiid entered Sunday leading the NBA in scoring (34.6 points per game) while also adding 11.8 rebounds, a career-best six assists, and two blocks per game. He is permitted to miss eight more games before he is disqualified from repeating as MVP, because of a new NBA rule that requires players to log at least 20 minutes in 65 games to be eligible for end-of-season accolades.

Reserve wing Kelly Oubre Jr. (toe soreness), who was a late scratch for Friday’s win over the Sacramento Kings, is not listed on the injury report and participated in Sunday’s practice, Nurse said. Starting guard De’Anthony Melton, meanwhile, will miss Monday’s contest with the back issue that kept him out of three consecutive games earlier this month. Reserve center Mo Bamba (knee impingement) is listed as doubtful to play, while reserve wing Robert Covington (knee swelling) remains out.