More on Joel Embiid Injury
Kyle Neubeck: Embiid was asked about and refused to use his mask as an excuse for his struggles against Boston. “Everything I’ve been doing in this series, I won’t put that on the mask. That’s on me.”
Embiid felt 'sore' on Friday but said that he felt no discomfort in his face at the site of the orbital bone fracture. "I need about five massages today. It hurts," Embiid said, drawing laughs from reporters. "But it's the NBA. I'm trying to get back in the groove."
Embiid acknowledged that the mask bothered him at times Thursday night. "At the end of the day, no matter how much it bothers me I still got to be a basketball player," he said. "If the shots aren't falling or it gets foggy and I can't see, you know, there's a lot of different stuff I can do."
Kyle Neubeck: Joel Embiid WILL play tonight.
Derek Bodner: #Sixers announce that Joel Embiid will start tonight.
Ira Winderman: 76ers issue a starting lineup with no one listed at center.
Ira Winderman: Jerryd Bayless inactive for 76ers; Embiid is active.
Ramona Shelburne: Here's the mask!
Ramona Shelburne: The mask Embiid is wearing tonight has protective eyewear built into it! It’s carbon AND poly carbonate. Hence, it’s stronger than a normal mask. Let’s just say this has been a super involved hi-tech project between the Sixers, Embiid’s camp and the independent league doctors.
Ramona Shelburne: The reasons this was such a “process.” It’s the second time Embiid has broken this area of his face. First time was at Kansas. All the doctors involved felt there was significant risk of reinjury. So there’s been a lot of work done in developing this new stronger mask.
Ramona Shelburne: My understanding is that the mask Embiid is gonna wear is the one he and the Sixers requested. In other words he's comfortable with it.
Ira Winderman: Spoelstra on Embiid, "You have to deal with whatever's in front of you. We anticipated he would be part of this series."
Shandel Richardson: Spo on Embiid possibly playing tonight in Game 3: "We're not trying to duck competition."
Ramona Shelburne: Both from a healing and a protection standpoint (the mask!) he's been cleared, per sources. But needs to go through pregame warmups before they make the final call.
Joel Embiid is still in the process of receiving full clearance to return to the court, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke with PhillyVoice. Embiid, who is looking at a return to play following surgery to address a broken orbital bone on the left side of his face, will ultimately need final clearance from the surgical team responsible for performing the operation, per a source.
Ramona Shelburne: Sixers are listing Joel Embiid as DOUBTFUL for Game 3 tomorrow on the injury report
Barry Jackson: Embiid status for gm 3 undetermined, Brett Brown just said at 76ers practice in Overtown. Asked if optimistic about it, Brown said "neutral"
Jessica Camerato: Brown on what Embiid did yesterday in practice: "He did a little bit of contact. Not much, but a little. Got up and down and scripted some plays. But really not much more than that." Said Embiid handled the contact "quite well."
Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown said on Tuesday that the organization, Joel Embiid, his representatives and team doctors are "very unified" in how Embiid's injury is being handled. The All-Star center expressed frustration late Monday night about being held out of the Sixers' Game 2 loss to the Miami Heat thanks to injury.
Ian Begley: Brett Brown said there is a ‘unified effort’ among the Sixers, Joel Embiid’s representatives and Embiid’s surgeon regarding the approach for his return. He has still not been cleared for contact and there is no exact timetable for his return at the moment.
Jessica Camerato: Brett Brown said Joel Embiid will not be doing contact today in practice. "He’ll be doing some stuff with shooting and scripting really for the first time with his team. But what that translates to in regards to when’s he going to play for us again on a court, we don’t know."
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.”
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.
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
