The NBA has fined the Philadelphia 76ers $100,000 for violating the league's injury reporting rules in relation to Joel Embiid's return to the court on Tuesday night. Embiid, who had been listed as out for the game, was suddenly upgraded to questionable just before the match against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
This unorthodox return led to the league imposing the fine, taking into account the team's previous violation of injury reporting rules. Two years ago, the 76ers were fined $50,000 for a similar incident involving Embiid's return from injury.
Despite the controversy, Embiid's return has had a positive impact on the team's performance. The 76ers secured victories against Oklahoma City and Miami, putting them in contention for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference standings and potentially avoiding play-in games.
As of Friday night, the three teams vying for the sixth, seventh, and eighth spots are projected to finish with 46 wins each. Philadelphia's recent win over Miami has given them the tiebreaker advantage based on conference record.
Embiid's return to the court has been impressive, with notable performances in the two games he has played since his recovery. Scoring 24 and 29 points in the wins over the Thunder and Heat, respectively, Embiid has been a key player for the 76ers.
Looking ahead, Embiid is expected to sit out one of the upcoming back-to-back games to manage his recovery. The team plans to have him play in the final three regular-season games against the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Brooklyn Nets.
