Joel Embiid is only ‘50% at best’ to be ready for Eastern Conference semifinals start, 76ers coach Doc Rivers admits, after sprained knee forced star out of series-clinching win
- Joel Embiid was hurt during Game 3 of the Sixers’ series with the Nets
- It’s far from the first time he’s been forced to miss time in the postseason
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Doc Rivers has put Joel Embiid’s chances of being ready for the start of the Eastern Conference semifinals at just ’50 percent – at best’ after the Sixers wrapped up a sweep of the Nets without him.
Embiid was injured during the third quarter of Game 3 – a 102-97 Philly win – when he landed awkwardly while trying to contest a shot from Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson.
And after an MRI of the center’s knee ‘did not turn out well’ according to Rivers, he and the rest of the Sixers organization will be sweating over their star’s availability in the second round.
‘I just don’t know,’ Rivers said after the game when asked about Embiid’s prospects of being ready for Game 1 of the next round.
‘I would say, right now, it’s probably the same percentage I said before the game… probably 50 percent, at best.’
Joel Embiid may not be ready for the start of the next round after suffering a knee sprain
‘I just don’t know,’ Doc Rivers said when asked about Embiid’s prospects after side swept Nets
While Embiid’s injury will cause concern for the East’s No. 3 seed, he’ll have at least a week to recover.
After the Hawks upset the Celtics at home in Game 3, their series with Boston won’t wrap up until at least Tuesday, with the earliest possible start date of the East semis coming on April 29.
The Sixers will therefore be rooting for Atlanta from afar to extend their series and give Embiid some extra rest.
The presumptive MVP has had rotten injury luck in the playoffs through the years.
He missed the first two games of the 2018 playoffs with an orbital fracture, one game in 2019 with knee soreness, one game in 2021 with a small later meniscus tear, and two games last year with an orbital fracture and concussion.
And even if Embiid returns for the start of the next round, it’s possible the big man is not quite at full strength against the next opponent.
The Sixers will await the winner of the Hawks-Celtics series, with Boston currently leading 2-1 ahead of Sunday’s Game 4.
Embiid was held in check by the Nets by his standards, averaging 20 points per game
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