The 76ers officially ruled center Joel Embiid for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals vs. the Celtics Monday night, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports. The team is still optimistic that Embiid can play during Game 2 of the series on Wednesday.
Embiid suffered a knee injury during Philadelphia’s first-round series vs. the Nets more than a week ago. The center didn’t play in the team’s series-clinching Game 4 win vs. Brooklyn, and last played in a game during Game 3 on April 20.
This year, Embiid led the league in scoring for the second straight season, totaling 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and is one of the favorites to win the MVP award. The center played in 66 games this year, the second-highest total in his career after last year’s 68 games.
Before Game 1, Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said Embiid got some shots up after practice but did not do any running. When asked about Embiid’s status for Game 2, Rivers mentioned that it is too early to tell.
“I can’t even say,” Rivers said. “It hasn’t been talked about yet.”
Doc Rivers discusses Joel Embiid's status for Game 2 after being ruled out for Game 1#BleedGreen #BrotherlyLove #PHIvsBOS #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Qfp3aqoVnt
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 1, 2023
With Embiid out, backup forward Paul Reed will likely get the start as he did in the Sixers’ last game, where he totaled 10 points and 15 rebounds as Philadelphia closed out Brooklyn.
