There’s hope out in Philly. With Sixers All-Star Joel Embiid set to have surgery after suffering an orbital fracture around his left eye, ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that it’s possible he only misses one playoff game.
More on Joel Embiid Injury
Wojnarowski: "They're waiting for the swelling to go down in that fracture. The hope is to get him into surgery either Saturday or Sunday. But there's reason to believe that if all goes well with the surgery and the recovery, he may only miss Game 1 or 2 of the Eastern Conference playoff series. There's hope he can be back in essentially two weeks."
Jon Johnson: Ben Simmons' message to Joel Embiid to @Molly French: "Get ready for the playoffs. We're gonna hold it down".
Jessica Camerato: Ben Simmons reacts to Joel Embiid’s injury and how the Sixers still can win.
Jessica Camerato: Brown on Embiid: "I’ve spoken with him a few times, the beauty of FaceTime. He’s just disappointed. He’s come through a lot."
Keith Pompey: Brett Brown on Joel Embiid: “He’s just disappointed. He’s come through a lot. We need to help him. ... We all talk about how much we need Joel from a basketball standpoint and this is true. He needs his team now.”
Jessica Camerato: Brett Brown expects the Sixers play with a faster pace, more three-point shooting without Joel Embiid. Said defense is biggest concern: “Everything’s got to be perfect, or as perfect as we can be, defensively.”
Jon Johnson: For those asking, Joel Embiid can have surgery while in concussion protocol, per source.
Joel Embiid: I guess I gotta trust “The Process” that I’ve been preaching... Unfortunate freak accident but I’ll be more than fine. Injuries jokes coming in 3,2,1 #TheProcess #Two-Face
Kyle Neubeck: Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with a concussion, in addition to an orbital fracture in his left eye. He will receive surgery to address the fracture in the days to come.
Jessica Camerato: Embiid medical update. And there's a lot in it:
Zach Lowe: Pending the results of surgery, Embiid could return to play in 2-4 weeks, per league source. First round obviously in some jeopardy.
#Sixers center @JoelEmbiid is still undergoing further tests.
Derek Bodner: Sense is Joel Embiid's absence from #Sixers lineup likely to extend beyond this two game road trip, I'm told. Full extent of his injuries, and expected recovery, is still being determined. Embiid suffered a facial contusion in a collision with teammate Markelle Fultz last night.
Jessica Camerato: Joel Embiid was released from the hospital. He will not travel with the Sixers when they fly to Atlanta today.
Embiid was taken to a hospital for precautionary testing after a nasty collision with teammate Markelle Fultz. The team said the All-Star center had a facial contusion, but did not have a concussion. "I was scared," Saric said of his reaction to Embiid going down. "I hope he'll be good and he'll be ready."
Embiid went through the concussion protocol and it was ruled that he doesn’t have a concussion. However, he went to a hospital for more testing. The Sixers did not give an update after the game. However, Embiid posted a video on his Instagram story feed from his hospital room late last Wednesday. In the video, Embiid’s face appears to be swollen underneath the caption”Not good.”
Jon Johnson: X-rays on Embiid were negative
Sarah Todd: Embiid sat up for a second but but lay back down. He is just now getting off the floor. I'd be shocked if he doesn't enter concussion protocol. #Sixers
Dan Gelston: Joel Embiid (Facial contusion)- Will not return
The 76ers have taken hits for their lack of transparency. And Thursday morning’s shootaround at Asphalt Green might be a reason for more. Or maybe center Joel Embiid just didn’t tell anyone why his left wrist was taped up. The all-star obviously knows why. However, he did not speak to the media after the shootaround. So coach Brett Brown was asked what’s wrong with Embiid’s wrist. ”I don’t think anything,” Brown said before spotting Embiid as he exited the gym. “I see that it’s taped. I don’t know. I see that it’s taped, but I don’t know that.”
Keith Pompey: #Sixers center Joel Embiid’s left wrist is taped up. Coach Brett Brown says he doesn’t know what’s wrong with him. The #Sixers PR said he’s not on the injured report and is available. Embiid did not speak after shootaround.
Kyle Neubeck: Joel Embiid is out for tonight’s game.
Ira Winderman: Joel Embiid dealing with right ankle soreness, with his status tonight vs. Heat to be determined during warmups, per philly.com
Jon Johnson: Embiid says his knee is fine. Fatigue was a factor that caused fall. Was not wrapped or iced.
Christopher A. Vito: Joel Embiid after the game... Did you get an X-ray? “No.” What kind of treatment did you get? “No treatment. They just checked the movement and everything was good." Were you nervous to come back? “No.”
Derek Bodner: Joel Embiid will play tonight #Sixers
Jessica Camerato: Embiid (back soreness) did not practice today.
Keith Pompey: Joel Embiid is officially OUT
Jessica Camerato: Guess what. Joel Embiid IS going to play tonight.
Philadelphia center Joel Embiid injured his right hand going after an inbounds pass late in the fourth quarter of the 76ers' 123-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. Embiid had X-rays taken and his hand wrapped in ice after the game, and said he thinks he will be fine. "They said it wasn't broken. They think it was sprained, so I guess that's good news," Embiid said.
Joel Embiid’s practice regimen for the most part is about receiving treatment, studying game tape and putting up shots. It involves “getting medically worked on a lot,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said of his standout center. “You know, taking whatever we can in that time line and helping him physically get better.”
“The good news is we are seeing progress where he can slowly start to do things more with the team,” Brown said. “He had one of the rare times he actually did come in and do stuff with the team, pre-Trail Blazers game.”
Jessica Camerato: Joel Embiid WILL play tonight against the Trail Blazers.
Jessica Camerato: Embiid: "I think I should be playing tonight."
Keith Pompey: #Sixers center @Joel Embiid was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. According to Brett Brown, the big fellas looked good and moved well.
The 23-year-old had missed the Sixers' previous three games due to a back injury but the team deemed Embiid healthy enough to play shortly before tip-off on Monday. "I want to stay on the floor, I want to be on the floor," Embiid said afterward. "If it's not something that's going to really, really bother me, I'm going to play."
Josh Lewenberg: Embiid will make his Toronto debut today after all. Had missed Philly's first 7 visits since he was drafted, but he'll give it a go this evening.
Christopher A. Vito: Sixers announce that Joel Embiid (back pain) is, indeed, out tonight vs. Toronto.
Based on Joel Embiid’s teammates’ observations, the franchise player looked like he’s ready to play Friday night. “I mean he looked pretty good to me,” reserve center Richaun Holmes said. “I don’t really understand … I don’t really know too much about what’s going on. I just know to be ready when my name is called. Hopefully, he can go tonight.”
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, sidelined with a sore back, could miss two more games this week but is expected to return for the Christmas Day meeting with New York, league sources told ESPN. Despite the likelihood of resting his back for the remainder of the week, there's optimism that Embiid will be fit to face the Knicks on Monday, league sources said.
Jessica Camerato: Joel Embiid will play tonight against the Thunder.
Jerry Zgoda: Sixers call Embiid and McConnell both available tonight vs. Wolves, Covington (lower back contusion) out
Keith Pompey: No announcement made on the availability of #Sixers’ @TJ McConnell, @Robert Covington and @Joel Embiid yet. Coach Brett Brown “I’m told it’s going to be a game-time decision.”
Jerry Zgoda: The Sixers list Joel Embiid (back tightness) and Robert Covington (lower back contusion) are questionable for Tuesday's game vs. Wolves. Embiid told reporters in New Orleans yesterday that he expects to play.
Will Guillory: Joel Embiid is a late scratch for the Sixers with back tightness.
Jessica Camerato: Joel Embiid will play and start tonight against the Magic.
Joel Embiid is listed as probable for Saturday night’s game against the Orlando Magic with a cold. The 76ers center received treatment in the morning instead of participating in the shootaround with teammates.
Jessica Camerato: Lots of questions about Embiid: he is available to play tonight.
Jessica Camerato: Joel Embiid is available to play tonight.
Jessica Camerato: Embiid still a game-time decision. Holmes is available to play.
Keith Pompey: Joel Embiid said he should be fine tonight.
Keith Pompey: Embiid has left knee soreness and is a game-time decision.
Keith Pompey: The #Sixers aren’t concerned, but Joel Embiid is still experiencing a little soreness in his knee. But they think that’s to be expected. They are more focused on improving his condition level.
Jessica Camerato: Brown said Embiid will not have minute restrictions because of his hand. Embiid will play with the same monitoring/parameters he's had.
Jessica Camerato: Embiid (hand) said he's planning to play tomorrow.
Joel Embiid said after Thursday’s practice that he had no idea when he would be cleared to play on consecutive nights. “I’m actually going to ask them the question,” he said, referring to the team’s medical staff. “Hopefully I get to play in back-to-backs.”
“Yesterday I played, and my body feels great today,” Embiid said. “My knee feels amazing. So I feel like if I have to play today, I would play depending on how I feel. But I feel like I’m ready.”
Keith Pompey: Joel Embiid will play 12-14 minutes.
Keith Pompey: #Sixers center @JoelEmbiid is available to play tonight vs. the #BrooklynNets
Joel Embiid was cleared for 5-on-5 drills and participated in a full practice with the Philadelphia 76ers for the first time Thursday. Embiid sat out Philadelphia's preseason opener on Wednesday and won't play against Boston on Friday. The Sixers are hopeful Embiid will be in the lineup on opening night.
Jessica Camerato: Brown said Embiid had better conditioning today than he expected.
Tom Moore: #Sixers Brown: 'I don't really know what to expect' when asked if Embiid will be ready for start of season but says JE is getting there.
Embiid, who is rehabilitating a left knee injury, was spotted playing tennis Sunday night on a Philly court. Then a Lyft driver saw him jogging in the city Monday night. Embiid was heading home after a second night of tennis with a member of the Sixers’ coaching staff.
But why would a high-profile athlete jog in the streets and on sidewalks late at night? What if he ran across pushy autograph-seeking fans or hecklers and put himself in harm’s way? “He declares himself to be a man of the people,” coach Brett Brown said. “I think that is true. He’s proud of that and I think he lives it.”
Jessica Camerato: Brown said practices based around what Embiid's cleared to do- “We are trying to cater the structure to slowly groom Joel back into the mix.”
