6:38pm: Embiid will be in the Sixers’ starting lineup for Game 2, tweets Charania.
9:05am: Newly crowned Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid is on track to return to action in Game 2 of the Sixers‘ second round series against the Celtics, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Charania’s report suggests Embiid is expected to play on Wednesday night in Boston as long as he doesn’t experience any setbacks today.
Embiid has been sidelined since Game 3 of Philadelphia’s first round win over Brooklyn due to a sprained LCL in his right knee. He reportedly received a PRP injection last week to promote healing in the knee. Although he was ruled out for Game 1, reports at the time indicated there was “optimism” about his chances of making it back for Game 2.
According to Charania, after Embiid was officially named MVP on Tuesday night, he turned to the team during a brief celebration and announced, “I’m back.”
If Embiid does return on Wednesday and remains healthy for the remainder of the series, the 76ers have a legitimate opportunity to upset the Celtics, who entered the second round as the favorites to come out of the East.
An Embiid-less Sixers squad pulled out a Game 1 win on the road as James Harden matched a career postseason high with 45 points. That victory ensured the team will return to Philadelphia for Game 3 with no worse than a split of the first two games.
It’s about to come crashing down in Boston
Celtics live in your head.
So funny I will continue to think of Gino as this year’s mVP I already forgot it was embiid lol
You never liked Embiid anyway, so not sure how much your take is worth.
Personally I hate MVP awards (with little consistent criteria) which are generally popularity contests or pretty close. I just want a title. To me any of 10 guys could have a legitimate claim to this meaningless (to me) award.
he can’t seeing the team win w/o him. either way hopefully we can pull another win out of our arse and go up 2-0 and head back home for gm#3 Friday night
Hoping we get to experience the joy of defeating the Evil Empire of Boston
Yeah, that would make your life way better.
God forbid rivalries exist.
Yeah, you have no clue just how much lol but it most certainly would
I don’t know how much of an “upset” it would be. Philly is stacked. Boston had the second-best record in the NBA, and Phlly had the third-best. Very evenly matched teams.
The Sixers are a very good team, but it’s not like the series was widely considered a toss-up before Game 1. The Celtics are still favored by oddsmakers after falling behind 1-0.
Nba cabal decides mvp
Should he have played? Probably not. But it was a throw away game to get him back in game live action.
Series is 0-0 best to 3.
Lol this is the playoffs. There are no “throw away” games. MVP LoL
A throwaway game.
Ok.