Speaking after the game, head coach Brett Brown discussed his star’s absence. “You need Joel Embiid… I felt tonight it was a really strong example of how you wished you had him.” Asked about Embiid’s Instagram post, Brown wasn’t concerned. “He wants to play in front of the fans, he wants to see this through,” Brown told reporters.
More on Joel Embiid Injury
There are still a few medical hurdles for Embiid to clear as he returns from surgery, sources told ESPN. The recovery is a process of ramping up to different stages of activity. Internally, there is optimism that Embiid will return when the series is in Miami, though it's unclear if that will be for Game 3 on Thursday, according to sources.
The result tied the series at 1-1; losing home-court advantage for the remainder of the first round match-up. And with Embiid’s return seemingly a day-to-day decision; it looks as though the big man’s patience is finally up. The Sixers star posted an Instagram Story, which read simply: “F***ing sick and tired of being babied.”
Ramona Shelburne: Joel Embiid to ESPN on the frustration behind his IG post from earlier, “I promised the city the playoffs and I’m not on the court and I may not be on Thursday either. I wish more than anything that I was out there. I just want the green light to play.”
Dan Gelston: Embiid is wearing his black mask and shooting 3s and half court shots. Crowd "oohs" & "aahhs" with each make or miss.
Manny Navarro: Brett Brown said Embiid announcement for Game 3 isn’t going to happen tonight. Says he still hasn’t “felt a body” yet in workouts.
Tom Moore: #Sixers coach Brett Brown on Joel Embiid: ‘He is the difference-maker. I can’t wait to play him.’ Says result of Game 2 won’t have impact on Embiid’s status.
Jessica Camerato: Joel Embiid cleared the NBA concussion protocol. He is OUT for game two.
Ramona Shelburne: Joel Embiid said he thinks there's a "pretty good chance" he'll be able to play in Game 2 or 3. "If it was my decision I would play, but I can’t get back out on the court if I don’t have the OK from them," Embiid said. "But everything has been going well."
Ramona Shelburne: Embiid was on the court shooting for about 30 minutes before Game 1. He wore a black protective mask which he prefers to white or clear masks because those "get foggy." But Embiid says the league hasn't approved the black mask yet so they're still exploring options.
Ramona Shelburne: Embiid also said he's lost a bit of weight since the collision with Markelle Fultz. He's gone from "280-something to 275" which he thinks is related to not being able to lift as much. Normally when he's missed time, Embiid gains weight.
Jessica Camerato: How does Brett Brown game plan for a series with the uncertainty of Joel Embiid? “You just plan like you never have him.” #sixers #heat pic.twitter.com/tNpcHDwSYh
Jon Johnson: "It's(eye) still kinda pretty swollen. There is really no pain. Sometimes there is. It's getting better. I'm actually surprised how fast it's getting better" - Embiid.
Jon Johnson: Still no target date or game for Embiid
Joel Embiid was cleared to begin light non-contact cardiovascular exercise this weekend. The 76ers center still has several steps to complete in the NBA concussion protocol before resuming all-out activities. Saturday was a good start, as Embiid worked out symptom free on an exercise bike at the team’s practice facility in Camden.
Done with the exercise bike test, Embiid is cleared to go the next stage, which is working out on a treadmill or doing light cardio. If he’s symptom free from there, he can resume on-court activities without contact before moving on. So there are a couple of stages he has to hit before playing in a game. The Sixers are confident that he’ll reach those stages.
Keith Pompey: #Sixers center @Joel Embiid has been concussion symptom free since March 29, the day after fracturing the orbital bone near his left eye.
Jessica Camerato: "Might this be a way where he can get an unplanned rest? Possibly. But if you gave me my choice, and it ain’t even close, I wished he was wish us." - Brett Brown on Joel Embiid
“It’s very scary to know we’re doing this without Jo,” Markelle Fultz said echoing Simmons. When Robert Covington was asked if he thinks about what the team will look like in the playoffs with Embiid he had the same answer. “Yeah. Scary.”
Rachel Nichols: Hey look who I found: @JoelEmbiid smiling & back to looking much more like himself again post-surgery. He echoed the #Sixers saying he’s got no set return date, although (no surprise) he’s super-eager to come back, said “you know if it was up to me, I’d be out there for Game 1.” #NBA
Tim Bontemps: Joel Embiid is in the Sixers locker room. Almost talks to the media, then walks out. Says, “I’m good,” and gives a thumbs up. His cheek looked a little swollen, but wasn’t wearing a mask.
Ramona Shelburne: A little context on Joel Embiid's return from what should really be described as a broken face. He's gonna start riding a bike & walking on a treadmill this weekend. You have to ramp up the exertion level of cardio slowly when coming back from these types of injuries. Once Embiid can do more intense cardio, he can do the exertion test to clear concussion protocol. The healing of the facial fracture is hard to predict. I'm told there's "hope" he can get back for playoffs but expecting him for Game 1 isn't something to speculate on yet.
Jeff Zillgitt: Joel Embiid (re: concussion) has been cleared to play by an independent neurologist and now must complete NBA's concussion protocol. No timetable on his return, per Sixers. Doctors pleased with healing of area following surgery for fractured orbital bone.
Tom Moore: #Sixers Brown: Embiid’s ‘spirits are great.’ Doesn’t know when Joel can do cardio. Says hasn’t been around treat yet.
Dan Gelston: There is currently no timetable for Embiid’s recovery, and Joel will return to play when it is safe and medically advisable. Joel will have a post-operative examination in approximately 5-7 days,
Tom Moore: #NBA source: 'No timetable' for Joel Embiid's post-surgery return 'at this time.' #Sixers
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid underwent surgery Saturday to repair the orbital fracture around his left eye, league sources said. Embiid could return in two weeks, sources said. Doctors will still need to clear Embiid for him to return to the floor, but pain threshold could play a significant part in how quickly he can return to the court.
Jon Johnson: Per source, Embiid two week timetable from today is very optimistic. Not impossible, but everything would need to go right(recovery, pain tolerance).
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sixers center Joel Embiid underwent surgery today to repair orbital fracture, league source tells ESPN.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Embiid could return in two weeks, league sources tell ESPN. Much of his return date could be based upon pain threshold. Embiid will still need to be cleared by doctors to return.
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.
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.”
