The Philadelphia 76ers received some excellent news on Wednesday regarding star center Joel Embiid. 76ers coach Nick Nurse said that there is a good likelihood that Embiid would return to the court before the play-in tournament or playoffs. He spoke before the team’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I think there’s a very good likelihood that he will return before the play-in, playoff,” Nurse said ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Embiid has been sidelined since January 30, while dealing with a knee injury. His return to the lineup would be a massive boost for a Philadelphia team that has been competitive without him. The reigning league MVP’s injury was devastating to Philadelphia’s chances this season, but now the key will be to get him back in time to acclimate him into the lineup.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 16: Joel Embid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers on the sideline during a game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Wells Fargo Center on March 16, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joel…
Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
The 76ers currently hold a record of 39-34, sitting in 8th place within the Eastern Conference standings. The team has been able to hold the line while Embiid has been out, but if they want to make any noise in the playoffs, they will need their star. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it’s a matter of when, not if for Embiid to return.
Before his injury, Embiid was on his way to potentially winning another MVP award, averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. The Eastern Conference is very top-heavy this season, with the Boston Celtics dominating throughout. Philadelphia is only 1.5 games behind the Indiana Pacers for the 6th seed in the East, which would allow them to enter the playoff bracket once the season ends. They are 3.5 games behind the Orlando Magic for the 5th seed as well.
Moving themselves out of the play-in tournament could allow Embiid more time to rest, rather than playing extra games just to make the postseason. If the 76ers are forced to play in the play-in tournament, they will likely face off against either Boston or the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Neither team would be an ideal matchup for the 76ers early in the postseason, but the injury to Embiid limited their production throughout the year.
With the season coming to a close soon, we should see Embiid start to ramp things up upon his return. The 76ers will have a fighting chance to do damage in the postseason with Embiid back in the mix. He is one of the top players in the game today and the entire league is better when he is healthy and on the court.
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