Justin Grasso: Joel Embiid practiced today. Doc Rivers …

More on Joel Embiid Injury

Justin Grasso: Doc Rivers on Joel Embiid, who is out tonight: “I don’t know if he took a step backwards, [his back] is still sore from the fall.” #Sixers
Justin Grasso: Joel Embiid remains Questionable for the #Sixers tonight vs. #Pacers. Terrance Ferguson (health and safety protocols) and Mike Scott (knee) are out tonight.
Tom Moore: #Sixers coach Doc Rivers expects Joel Embiid to play Wednesday. Said he was 'in and out of practice' today.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid left after being hit in the right wrist in the first half of the Sixers' 125-121 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday and didn't return. The Sixers said Embiid got an X-ray at halftime that came back negative. Embiid, who is coming off an ankle injury he suffered in the first quarter of Sunday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, was already going to be held to limited minutes, so he was kept out the remainder of the game.
The Sixers' number of available All-Stars has dropped from two to zero this week. Joel Embiid left Sunday's game vs. the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter with a left ankle injury and the Sixers fell, 124-121. They're now 42-28 and next play the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
"I'm going to learn more physically," Brett Brown said after the game. "I don't know enough to comment on it. ... Joel was fully engaged as a teammate. As it relates to what his injury is or what it actually means, I can't comment. I don't know. But it was great just to see him being a part of the group."
Kyle Neubeck: Joel Embiid began experiencing discomfort in his right calf during Friday’s game vs. MEM and will not play in today’s scrimmage against OKC. Embiid is considered day to day, continues to receive treatment for right calf tightness, and will be re-evaluated tomorrow.
The Athletic: Joel Embiid is hopeful to return on Wednesday against Detroit, sources tell NBA Insider @Shams Charania. More 📝 in the latest Inside Pass: theathletic.com/1659421/?sourc…
Embiid practiced Friday for the first time since surgery, wearing padding and tape on his hand that he called “a cast.” The Sixers said he’d be re-evaluated Monday, and Embiid said he’d have to wear that “cast” when he comes back — whenever that might be. They host the Warriors on Tuesday and then go out for a rugged four-game trip, finishing with dates at Boston, Miami and Milwaukee. 24. “I think usually this stuff takes a month to get back from,” Embiid said. “It’s been two weeks. It can take longer, but I am not happy with where we are and just gotta keep praying and hoping it keeps getting better so I can get back out there with my guys.”
Joel Embiid, who practiced Friday for the first time since undergoing surgery on his finger, said he hopes to return to the court for the Philadelphia 76ers next week. "Just trying to get back into it and make the progress that's necessary," Embiid said after a lengthy post-practice workout Friday afternoon. "But I feel good. ... I think my finger feels good."
Embiid, who had surgery on Jan. 10 to repair the torn radial collateral ligament in his left ring finger, said he's "not too concerned" about the All-Star Game, when asked if he thinks he'll be back for the league's annual showcase on Feb. 16 in Chicago. "Right now we are sixth in the East," Embiid said. "Next week, I'm hoping to play."
Embiid said he would have to continue to keep wearing the protective device on his hand when he returns. "Still getting used to it," Embiid said of playing again post-surgery. "From time to time, you get slapped on the hand, so going through practice and going through those scenarios and seeing how it goes and also getting back into it. I had a little time off where I couldn't do anything with the surgery, so probably a little bit winded, and have to get my conditioning back."
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sixers All-Star Joel Embiid had successful surgery on left hand today, per source. Reevaluating in 1-2 weeks.
Keith Pompey: Joel Embiid declined to do a post-shootaround interview, preferring to speak before the game. But the #Sixers center said he feels good.
Keith Pompey: #Sixers center Joel Embiid is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against the #AtlantaHawks with a sprained right ankle/sutures for lip laceration.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been ruled out of Saturday's game at the Detroit Pistons, the team announced. Embiid complained of discomfort in his right ankle after the team's season-opening win against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. He has since been diagnosed with a sprained ankle.
Serena Winters: Joel Embiid did not practice today (right ankle sprain). Listed as questionable for tomorrow. He also received sutures for the lip laceration from the season opener
Serena Winters: Brett Brown has no update on Joel Embiid. (Currently still probable with upper respiratory)
Kyle Neubeck: Embiid went back to the locker room, didn’t see him do much other than shoot jumpers. Body language was not especially encouraging, could see a band aid on his arm where I presume he would have been hooked up to an IV this week. That’s all I got until decision is made.
Josh Lewenberg: Has Jimmy Butler asked Embiid how he's feeling? "I didn't ask how he's doing. I can look at him and tell how he's doing." How does he look? JB: "Sick. I tried to stay as far away as I could to tell you the truth. I love him but I don't want to be sick. I hate being sick."
Serena Winters: Joel Embiid seemed very sick talking to him post-game. He told us he could not sleep, was throwing up last night, and had to get an IV at 6AM this morning. Also said it was not related to the stomach issue he had for Game 2.
Eric Koreen: Brown on Embiid: “We hope to maintain and sort of increase his fitness base as the Brooklyn series and now the Toronto series play out."
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid says the tendinitis in his left knee is still bothersome, but he's going to increase his workload in the second round against the Toronto Raptors regardless. "It's still not there. It's still trying to get better," Embiid said at shootaround Saturday in advance of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the favored Raptors. "But that's an issue that's going to be there at least all playoffs until I actually get some real time to get some rest and work on myself. ... "But, we did a good job managing it. Obviously I only averaged about 24 minutes last series, so this one I'm definitely going to need way more than that."
Storyline: Joel Embiid Injury
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March 22, 2023 | 9:21 pm EDT Update
Walt “Clyde” Frazier said he’d been “meandering” all day on Wednesday, one day after the loss of his longtime friend, captain and championship teammate, Willis Reed. “It took me so long to get dressed today,” the famously fashionable Frazier said softly before working Wednesday’s game between the Knicks and the Heat as the longtime analyst for MSG Networks. “It’s been devastating. After seeing him on the video for the 50th anniversary, I didn’t know he was that far gone. Everybody was really surprised.”
March 22, 2023 | 8:24 pm EDT Update

Mike Brown on Domantas Sabonis: He's as close to Draymond Green as a big man

Sabonis leads the NBA in rebounding and is dishing a career-high 7 assists per game. Every teammate — even Fox — knows to run the wings when Sabonis grabs a defensive board. “He is as close to Draymond Green as any big man I’ve seen in terms of someone who can get it off the glass, bring it up, and make the right play,” says Brown, who coached Green as an assistant in Golden State for six seasons.
During Sabonis’ rookie year in Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook invited Sabonis to early-morning workouts to go through the nuances of pick-and-roll, says Billy Donovan, who coached that Thunder team. They drilled how to read a defender’s feet, when Sabonis could slip screens, how Sabonis could make himself available for pocket passes. (One of Sabonis’ rookie duties was supplying Westbrook with Snapple for team flights, Sabonis and others on that team recall.) Sabonis was astonished that Fox ceded so much ball handling to him right away, including letting Sabonis rush the ball up after rebounds. “I was really surprised,” Sabonis says. “He has been with the Kings forever. This is his team. He really let me do my thing. Not many franchise point guards would let their big man bring the ball up. He ran with me. He set screens for me. That’s what shocked me most. That’s what made the transition so easy. Neither of us care who is who. We just want to win.”
Sabonis suffered an avulsion fracture in his right thumb and ligament damage in his hand. Fixing it required surgery that would cost between six and eight weeks. The Kings were 17-14, sixth in the West, only a couple games ahead of No. 11. Sabonis wanted to keep playing. “In my mind, sitting out was not an option,” he says. “Six to eight weeks — we can’t risk that.” He asked the team’s medical staff to wait to see if the swelling would subside. It did — enough. He joked that he didn’t use his right hand anyway. After consulting with doctors, trainers, and Sabonis’ agents, the decision was made: He’d play on. The training staff nicknamed him “Wolverine” for his apparent imperviousness to pain.
In the weeks before the trade, Thunder officials had talked to Sabonis about playing him more at center — the position he preferred. He pictured himself in Oklahoma City long-term. As free agency approached, Sabonis heard rumors the Thunder might sign Blake Griffin and worried he could end up traded as a result. When news broke that the Clippers had re-signed Griffin, Sabonis was relieved and went to bed to rest up for his summer league game the next day. Minutes later, Thunder officials called to tell him he had been traded. “I was in shock,” he says. “Like, are you joking? I was not so happy.”