Injury Notes: Edwards, Ingram, Dosunmu, Embiid
In a surprising turn of events, Anthony Edwards has been upgraded to questionable for the Timberwolves‘ Game 1 matchup against the Spurs on Monday, the team announced in a press release.
Edwards missed the last two games of the Wolves’ series against the Nuggets after hyperextending his left knee and was initially considered week-to-week with the injury.
A recent report had indicated optimism that he could return for Game 3 or 4 of the series, but Edwards takes pride in his ability to return to form quicker than expected.
“We call him Wolverine,” said Wolves’ vice president of medical operations and performance David Hine, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “Certain things you see other players might not be able to play through, those are injuries that Ant has been able to recover quickly from.”
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama expressed his desire to see the Wolves’ star shooting guard on the court in their series, as well as his sadness about the injuries to Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, who tore his Achilles during the first round.
“Those two are players that I like watching, I like playing against,” he said, per Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. “They go hard.”
We have more injury notes from around the playoffs:
- Raptors wing Brandon Ingram is out for Sunday’s Game 7 matchup against the Cavaliers, The Stein Line’s Marc Stein confirms (via Twitter). Ingram had previously been listed as doubtful with right heel inflammation. “We’ve gotta dig very deep. We’ve gotta find a way,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said of playing without two starters, per TSN’s Josh Lewenberg (Twitter link). “If we lose the game tonight, there’s no practice tomorrow, there is not another game tomorrow. So, we’ve gotta (find) our last energy tonight.” Ingram has struggled in the series, shooting just 32.8% from the field, but Toronto will still miss the threat his shot creation provides.
- Backup guard Ayo Dosunmu is also listed as questionable for Game 1 vs. San Antonio after missing the final game of the Timberwolves‘ first-round series due to right calf soreness, ESPN’s Anthony Slater writes. Dosunmu had two big games for the Wolves, helping them stay on track after the injury to Edwards. Head coach Chris Finch said that Dosunmu was “pretty much involved in all parts of practice” in Sunday’s medium-intensity workout, Chris Hine of the Star Tribune notes (Twitter link).
- Joel Embiid is considered probable for the Sixers‘ Game 1 matchup against the Knicks on Monday, Adam Aaronson writes for the Philly Voice. He is dealing with a right hip contusion and was visibly struggling with the injury during Saturday’s Game 7 victory.
Sixers Notes: Embiid, Maxey, Edgecombe, More
History was made on Saturday in Boston, as the Sixers became the first No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference to defeat a No. 2 seed since the NBA expanded to a best-of-seven format in the first round in 2003 (Twitter link via the league). Philadelphia also became the 14th team in playoff history to come back from a 3-1 deficit.
As Tim Bontemps of ESPN writes, history was also made between the two teams, as the 76ers were 0-18 all time when in a 3-1 series hole, while the Celtics had been 32-0 when up 3-1. It had been 44 years since Philadelphia had beaten its Atlantic Division rival in the postseason, a span of six playoff series, three of which included Joel Embiid, Bontemps notes.
Embiid, who had an emergency appendectomy three-plus weeks ago, changed the complexion of the series when he returned to action in Game 4. Although the Sixers lost that contest in lopsided fashion, they outplayed the Celtics over the final three games, with Embiid recording 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in 39 minutes in the decisive Game 7 to help vanquish his longtime foes.
“It feels good to win,” Embiid said. “Obviously, we got a bigger goal in mind. But finally beating these guys feels pretty good.”
The former league MVP had plenty of help on Saturday, as All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey had 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists of his own, making them the first teammates in NBA history to each register 30-10-5 lines in a Game 7, according to Bontemps.
“I just really wanted the ball,” Maxey said of his late-game heroics. “Early in the fourth, we went to Joel, and I just felt like it was time for me to step up and make a play.”
Here’s more on the Sixers, whose second-round matchup with New York begins on Monday:
- Embiid took some time to “bask in the glow” of his first Game 7 victory, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, who writes that the 32-year-old center appeared to hyperextend his knee near the end of the fourth quarter, though he jokingly dismissed the limp he played with afterward (Twitter video link via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype). Injuries were a major concern for the 76ers throughout 2025/26 as they went 45-37 during the regular season, but Maxey said the team never lacked belief. “We’ve had this weird swag about us all year,” he said. “We’ve had this confidence in that we know who we can be. And, we know who we are. We have never wavered. This group has always believed in each other. This group really likes each other, and we want to see each other succeed.”
- The Game 7 victory to complete the comeback was remarkable for several reasons, writes Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports. Boston was viewed as one of the favorites — if not the favorite — to come out of the East. Instead, the Celtics were sent home early by the Sixers, with Embiid looking unstoppable at times in the mid-post, both as a scorer and passer, and Maxey delivering haymakers at the end of games. Both the Sixers and Embiid deserve a lot of credit for weathering the storm and persevering in the face of adversity, Bodner adds.
- No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe was another huge factor on Saturday, per Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. In addition to recording 23 points, six rebounds and four assists, the rookie guard specifically requested to defend Derrick White after the Celtics guard erupted for 19 first-half points. In the third quarter, White was just 1-of-7 from the field and “a lot of that was VJ,” according to head coach Nick Nurse. “Those are the things that make a huge difference in games like this,” Nurse said.
Celtics/Sixers Notes: Edgecombe, George, Unlikely Heroes, More
The Sixers‘ star rookie, VJ Edgecombe, has generated his share of memorable moments during his first year in the league. Many of those have come in Boston’s TD Garden, prompting the question of whether he has one more big performance vs. the Celtics in him this year in Saturday’s Game 7 matchup, Adam Aaronson writes for PhillyVoice.
“It’s crazy to think about it,” Edgecombe said. “The first game was here. Now we’re in the playoffs playing here. I feel like I’ve been in this building a lot now, and this is my first year… Boston’s a good team, so I know that it’s going to be a real competitive game. So everything else is going to be out the window. All previous times we played here is out of the window. It’s all just focused on tonight.”
The young guard has been particularly impactful once Joel Embiid returned to play, showing improved efficiency despite a lower shot total, DeAntae Prince writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“That’s Joel Embiid, if we’re being so honest. He’s just so good. I don’t think anyone can guard him one-on-one,” Edgecombe said. “So I just try to make his job easier by getting open looks or an if it’s an available pass, the outlet pass.”
We have more notes regarding Game 7:
- Paul George has been upgraded to available for the Sixers, Tony Jones notes for The Athletic (Twitter link). The star wing had previously been added to the injury report as probable due to an illness. George has averaged 18.2 points in 36.3 minutes per game through the first six games of the series.
- If there’s one buzzword the Celtics are focusing on coming into the matchup, it’s “comfortable,” Steve Buckley writes for The Athletic. As in: “[The Sixers’] comfort level is higher right now,” per Jaylen Brown. “Their confidence is high right now. They’ve got a different swag to them, and we’ve gotta take that (away).” Or as in: “I thought Edgecombe was just too comfortable [in Game 2],” Brown said again. If Boston wants to come out of this series, especially without Jayson Tatum, who was a late scratch for Game 7, they need to stop looking past the Sixers and focus on their own missteps in the series, Buckley says.
- The anything-can-happen nature of a Game 7 can result in unlikely heroes, Aaronson writes. As an example, in 2022, Grant Williams‘ 27 points for the Celtics helped seal a Game 7 victory over the Bucks. Aaronson examines some potential candidates for the Sixers, ultimately landing on Quentin Grimes, Andre Drummond, and, as a dark-horse option, Justin Edwards.
- Home-court advantage is a popular topic late in the season as teams fight for seeding, but the Celtics, in recent years, have seemed more dominant on the road than in TD Garden. Robb examines the phenomenon in a recent mailbag, positing that Boston players may let their guard down a bit in the comfort of their home arena, relying on three-pointers and “home-run plays,” instead of a greater sense of urgency and intentionality.
Eastern Notes: Embiid, Grimes, Schröder, Cavaliers
Less than three weeks after an emergency appendectomy, Joel Embiid was the best player on the court as the Sixers staved off elimination in Tuesday’s Game 5 victory at Boston, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic.
“I was proud of him tonight,” said Tyrese Maxey, who finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. “To see him go out there under those circumstances and play like that — he was dominant, especially in the second half. He did a great job of inserting himself into the game. He carried us tonight.”
The seven-time All-Star started the game slowly, only converting one of his first seven field goal attempts. However, he made 11 of his next 16 attempts, finishing 12-of-23, and went 9-of-10 from the foul line for a total of 33 points. Embiid also contributed eight assists and four rebounds, but most importantly he was a mismatch down low and the Celtics had no answers to stop him, Jones writes.
“I don’t want to go home,” Embiid said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m glad we won tonight. Because I didn’t want to go home and look back this summer and wonder what could have happened if I were healthy. I’ve dealt with a lot of stuff in my career. I want to give this all that I can.
“We were better defensively tonight than we had been. It’s a little easier when you’re making shots. When I started the game, me taking jumpers wasn’t working. I had to adjust. I wanted to impose myself and get into the paint a little bit more. When I’m playing one-on-one, I feel good about my chances of scoring on anyone in this league.”
As Embiid alluded to, Philadelphia held Boston to just 97 points on Tuesday after the Celtics blitzed the 76ers 128-97 in Game 4.
The 32-year-old center is probable to suit up for Thursday’s Game 6 in Philadelphia, per Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Boston’s bench had outplayed Philadelphia’s reserves through the first four games of their first-round series, but Sixers guard Quentin Grimes helped flipped that script in Game 5, writes Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The impending free agent scored a highly efficient 18 points in 24 minutes while playing strong perimeter defense, Mizell notes. “Obviously, he gave us a great lift on both ends,” head coach Nick Nurse said of Grimes on Wednesday. “ … I’m glad he kind of looked more like himself.“
- Veteran point guard Dennis Schröder didn’t play much in the first four games of the Cavaliers‘ matchup with Toronto, averaging just 11.3 MPG, but he spoke up at halftime of Game 5 after Cleveland gave up 74 points in the first half and then played the entire fourth quarter to help lead the team to a comeback victory, as Jamal Collier of ESPN details. The 32-year-old German urged his teammates to bring more energy and assertiveness and to play through big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, according to Collier. Schröder had 19 points in 21 minutes, including 11 in the final period as the Cavs outscored the Raptors 25-17.
- While the Cavaliers showed some promising signs in Tuesday’s win, particularly in the fourth quarter, the fact that they’ve struggled for most of the the past three games may not bode well for the rest of the playoffs, argues Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. According to Lloyd, the Cavs will have to do more than eke out a home win against a banged-up Raptors team to prove their mettle, which has been repeatedly questioned the last few years following early postseason exits.
Injury Notes: Wagner, Edwards, Nuggets, Embiid
Magic forward Franz Wagner exited Monday’s game vs. Detroit in the third quarter due to what the team referred to as right calf soreness. Speaking after the game to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel and Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter links), Wagner explained that he felt his calf tighten up about a minute before he was substituted out of the game. The plan is for the 24-year-old to undergo an MRI on his calf on Tuesday, but he’s optimistic about suiting up in Game 5.
“Hopefully it’ll be better (Tuesday),” Wagner told Beede. “The guys got it done, so that’s all that matters.”
With Wagner sidelined, the Magic put the clamps on the Pistons’ offense down the stretch in Game 4, holding Detroit to 36 second-half points to secure a 94-88 win and a 3-1 lead in the series. The series is headed back to Detroit for Game 5 with the 60-win Pistons needing three straight victories to keep their postseason run alive.
We have a few more injury-related notes from around the NBA:
- Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch expressed confidence during a Sunday appearance on KFAN FM 100.3 in Minnesota that Anthony Edwards will be able to return to action this spring if the team can win one more game vs. Denver without him. “We do know that if we keep extending this playoff (run), he is going to come back,” Finch said (Twitter link via Charlie Walton of Zone Coverage). “And he generally comes back ahead of the timeline.” The Wolves have officially designated Edwards as “week to week” in his recovery from a hyperextended knee and bone bruise.
- Following the Nuggets‘ Game 5 win on Monday, head coach David Adelman said he has “no idea” whether Aaron Gordon (calf) or Peyton Watson (hamstring) will be back for Game 6, tweets Anthony Slater of ESPN. Denver will have an extra day of rest before Thursday’s game, but Adelman added that he’ll prepare for that do-or-die contest in Minnesota as if neither forward will be available.
- Star center Joel Embiid had 26 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in his return on Sunday following an appendectomy, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the Sixers, who were outscored by 25 points in his 34 minutes of action and lost Game 4 by 32. Embiid, who is listed as probable to play in Game 5 on Tuesday, spoke after his return about his recovery process, suggesting there were some “complications” related to his emergency surgery. Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice has the story.
Joel Embiid Set To Return For Game 4
The Sixers are getting reinforcements as they look to pull even in their series with Boston, as ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that star big man Joel Embiid will return in Game 4 after a multi-week absence following appendicitis surgery (Twitter link).
After being upgraded from doubtful to questionable earlier in the day, Embiid went through warm-ups and was ultimately cleared to play. The former MVP had a thick wrap around his stomach as he went through his pregame routine, PHLY Sports’ Kyle Neubeck reports (via Twitter).
Embiid did not look 100% as he went through warm-ups, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic (via Twitter), who cautioned fans to not expect too much from him immediately out of the gate.
Still, Embiid has been reinserted into the starting lineup, notes Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports (via Twitter), and it’s unclear if he will be playing with a minutes restriction. Kelly Oubre Jr., who was questionable with a sore oblique, has also been cleared to play, per Jones (via Twitter).
The Sixers tied the series 1-1 behind impressive showings from the Tyrese Maxey – VJ Edgecombe backcourt in Game 2, but they dropped a hard-fought Game 3 by a score of 108-100. They will look to take advantage of the home court advantage on Sunday to get themselves back on even footing heading to Boston for Game 5.
Atlantic Notes: Embiid, Tatum, Barnes, Fernandez
After previously being listed as doubtful, Sixers‘ star big man Joel Embiid has been upgraded to questionable for Game 4 in Philadelphia on Sunday, notes Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Embiid has been working his way back from appendectomy surgery for around three weeks, with his last game action coming on April 6 in a loss to the Spurs.
The Sixers have fought hard to keep the first-round series close to this point, largely fueled by Tyrese Maxey and Game 2 heroics from VJ Edgecombe. Should Embiid be able to return, he could pose an interesting wrinkle for the Celtics, whose big man rotation has been hit-and-miss through three games.
Given the designation, Embiid will probably go through warm-ups before the final determination on his status is made, Jones writes.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Jayson Tatum hit the dagger to seal the Celtics‘ Game 3 victory over the Sixers on Friday, adding yet another accomplishment to his already-impressive return from injury. Despite his success, he still doesn’t feel fully back, Dan Gelston writes for The Associated Press. “It may not seem like it because I’m back playing, but it was a very, very long time for me not to be doing what I love to do,” Tatum said. “I can’t stress it enough, the fact that I just get to put my uniform on and run out there with the team is a win for me.” Through three games, Tatum is averaging 23.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists to 1.7 turnovers per game. Those are strong numbers, though, to his point, the scoring rate would be his lowest postseason average since the 2019 playoffs. He said that he’s not worried about anything other than playing his game the right way.
- Scottie Barnes followed up his Game 3 heroics with another big outing on Sunday as the Raptors won their second straight game to tie the series with the Cavaliers at two games apiece. Barnes scored 23 points along with nine rebounds, four of which were offensive, six assists, and three blocks. When asked if this was what Darko Rajakovic saw coming for his star forward, the head coach said he wasn’t satisfied yet. “No, I expect more from Scottie,” Rajakovic said. “The way he’s playing, he’s at 60% of a player that he’s gonna be in two, three years. Scottie’s gonna be one of the best players in the league, and he’s already one of the best players in the league. How much he cares about winning is pushing him forward to do whatever it takes to win a game. That’s what makes him so special.“
- After Jordi Fernandez and his coaching staff received multiyear extensions from the Nets, he gave a strong endorsement of the team he’s spent the last two years with. “I appreciate it,” Fernandez said, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “I’d sign right now to do it for the rest of my career.” With so much still in the air in terms of what the Nets will look like moving forward from a roster standpoint, having stability and security with the coaching staff represents an important anchor point for the franchise. Fernandez knows that now it’s on him to keep pushing the team forward as the Nets look to become competitive again.
Sixers Notes: Embiid, Oubre, Rebounding, Game 3 Loss
Joel Embiid remains doubtful for the Sixers‘ Game 4 against Boston on Sunday, Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes in a subscriber-only story. Embiid hasn’t been able to play since undergoing an emergency appendectomy on April 9, but his status was upgraded to doubtful ahead of Game 3. Coach Nick Nurse told reporters that Embiid was able to go through an individual on-court workout on Saturday.
“He’s working as hard as he can to get back,” Nurse said. “We’re just going to have to see how it goes here today and tomorrow morning, and maybe we’ll know more towards the end of shootaround.”
Embiid participated in a light practice on Thursday, raising hopes that he’ll be able to return at some point in the series. Nurse admitted that “he’s just not ready” before Friday’s Game 3, and Sunday’s contest now carries a lot of importance with Philadelphia trailing 2-1 in the series.
“It [would be] a different ballgame having Joel back in the series,” said Adem Bona, who has replaced Embiid as the starting center. “It’s a huge advantage for us, so I’m just excited to see him back on the floor again.”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- The Sixers may also be missing Kelly Oubre Jr., who is listed as questionable for Game 4 with right adductor soreness, Mizell adds. Oubre played 40 minutes on Friday, finishing with 17 points and six rebounds.
- Embiid’s absence on the boards was costly Friday night as the Celtics collected 15 offensive rebounds and finished with 22 second-chance points, notes Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice. The most important play of the night was an offensive rebound as Derrick White collected a Nikola Vucevic miss with about 40 seconds remaining and fired the ball to Jayson Tatum for a three-pointer that put the game out of reach. “The second chance points is what got us today,” veteran center Andre Drummond said. “I think other than that, we played a very well-rounded game. It was a very intense game, a fun game for us to play in. We get those second chance points off the board, I think we win the game.”
- The Sixers let an opportunity slip away in Game 3 that might cost them a chance to win the series, states Tony Jones of The Athletic. Philadelphia played well enough in some aspects — forcing 17 turnovers and outscoring Boston 42-26 in the paint — but wasn’t able to secure the victory. “It’s funny, the last game, they made a run and we came back and we made every single play and we won the game,” Tyrese Maxey said. “Tonight, we made the run at them, and they made every single play and they won the game. It’s little stuff like that that decides games. Our attention to detail has to be great, because the margins in these games are really small. These are single-possession games and every possession really matters.”
Injury Notes: Durant, Reaves, Embiid, Edwards, Gordon
Kevin Durant will miss Game 3 for the Rockets on Friday due to a left ankle sprain, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (via Twitter). Durant had previously been listed as questionable after suiting up for Game 2’s loss. He missed Game 1 due to an unrelated knee injury.
Before the announcement of Durant’s status, head coach Ime Udoka said that if Durant couldn’t play, Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason would fill out the starting five alongside Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr., per Yahoo’s Kelly Iko (Twitter link). Sharania notes (via Twitter) that this would be the second-youngest starting lineup in playoff history.
According to The Athletic’s Will Guillory (via Twitter), Udoka said the team is looking at using more small-ball units in Game 3, which could mean that Dorian Finney-Smith sees his first action of the postseason.
On the Lakers’ side of the injury report, guard Austin Reaves has been ruled out as well, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin (Twitter link). Head coach JJ Redick told reporters during his pregame media session that Reaves would go through warm-ups at 5:45 pm local time and that the team would make a decision on his availability at that point (Twitter link via McMenamin).
Reaves, who has been sidelined since April 2 with an oblique injury, has been doing full-contact five-on-five work, Redick said (Twitter link via Dan Woike of The Athletic). It sounds like he’ll have a decent chance to play in Game 4.
We have more injury notes from around the league:
- Joel Embiid is out for the Sixers in Game 3 against the Celtics on Friday, Tim Bontemps writes for ESPN. The star center, who underwent an emergency appendectomy earlier this month, had previously been upgraded to doubtful, but isn’t yet cleared to return. “He’s just not ready,” coach Nick Nurse said pregame. “He’s lifted some, he’s got on court a bit, but we’re still at two weeks and a day, I think. So we’re just not ready yet.”
- Anthony Edwards is not on the injury report for the Timberwolves‘ Game 4 on Saturday, the team announced (via Twitter). He had previously been listed as questionable for each of the first three games of the series due to a knee ailment. “I think it’s definitely still something that we’re managing and he’s managing but all signs are pointing that it is getting better,” coach Chris Finch said when asked about the injury.
- The Nuggets are in must-win territory as they go into Game 4 down 2-1, but they still lack clarity on Aaron Gordon‘s status. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater (Twitter link), the versatile forward is listed as questionable after doing a walk-through at practice and icing his calf. Gordon missed Game 3 due to calf tightness. Another injured Nuggets wing, Peyton Watson, remains out for Game 4 due to his hamstring strain, Slater adds.
Sixers Notes: Embiid, Edgecombe, George, 22nd Pick
Joel Embiid has been upgraded to doubtful for the Sixers‘ Game 3 against the Celtics on Friday, Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports notes (via Twitter).
As The Athletic’s Tony Jones writes, Embiid partially participated in Philadelphia’s practice on Thursday, though coach Nick Nurse described it as only slightly more than a walkthrough.
“I think we’re going to know a lot more probably by the end of today where he is,” Nurse said, per PHLY Sixers (Twitter video link). “It’s kind of like, the work increases a little bit and then we gotta see how he comes out of that stuff… He wants to play and we want him to play. I don’t know how close we are to that at this point, but I think there’s some progress being made.”
Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy during the last week of the regular season, hasn’t played since April 6. The Sixers and Celtics are tied 1-1 in their first-round series.
We have more Sixers notes:
- VJ Edgecombe made history in the Sixers’ Game 2 win over the Celtics, surpassing Magic Johnson to become the youngest player ever to have a 30-point, 10-rebound playoff game. He was also the first rookie to put up those numbers since Tim Duncan in 1998, notes ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “I’m going to be honest, I think we all knew where the shots were going to come from,” Edgecombe said. “… Everyone can make a play on the court, so we kept trusting each other and I was in the spot and they wanted me to shoot the ball. It wouldn’t have been right if I didn’t shoot the ball, so I had to shoot the ball, hit wide-open shots and try to get my teammates assists.” The game was indicative of the mature, composed player Edgecombe has shown himself to be throughout his rookie season, Tony Jones writes for The Athletic.
- When the Sixers signed Paul George, it was to make him the team’s third star. That’s what happened in Game 2, though it wasn’t the pecking order Philadelphia had in mind when they made the deal, Gina Mizell of the Philly Inquirer writes, with Edgecombe starring in place of Embiid. “That’s kind of the role I’ve adjusted to,” George said, “Making sure [if] they go on a run or we need a good basket or a good look, I think I can get my shot off or I can still create and find people and put us at ease. It’s just kind of be the guy that can settle us down a little bit when we need it.”
- The Sixers own the 22nd pick in the 2026 draft, but with team president Daryl Morey at the helm, a trade is never out of the question, Adam Aaronson writes for the Philly Voice. Aaronson looks through some of the potential options at that spot, focusing on frontcourt depth.