Joel Embiid Injury Update, Latest News on 76ers Star's Status for Game 3 vs. Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid will play in Game 3 of the team's second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks on Friday night, the team announced.
Embiid missed Game 2 due to ankle and hip injuries.
Philadelphia dropped Game 2 against New York, putting the team in an 0-2 hole.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the decision to hold Embiid out of Game 2 was made after he was unable to participate in the Sixers' shootaround on Wednesday morning due to increased ankle and hip soreness.
Embiid had reportedly been receiving "around-the-clock treatment" in an effort to get him healthy enough to play Wednesday.
After appearing in only 19 games last season, Embiid has been ravaged by injuries once again this season, as a knee ailment and appendicitis limited him to 38 games during the regular-season.
The 32-year-old veteran missed the first three games of the Sixers' first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, but he returned for Game 4, and he was a difference-maker the rest of the way.
With Embiid in the lineup, the 76ers won three of the final four games in the series, and he averaged 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per contest.
That included a huge effort in Game 7 when the 7-footer went off for 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in 39 minutes.
After the 7-seeded Sixers pulled off the first-round upset over the second-seeded Celtics, they entered the second round with a ton of confidence and belief.
However, they ran into a buzzsaw in Game 1 against the Knicks, as New York cruised to a dominant, 137-98 victory.
Embiid had his worst game of the playoffs by far as well, finishing with just 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting to go along with four rebounds and one assist.
With Embiid set to return, the 76ers will hope to win Game 3 and avoid falling into an 0-3 hole against the Knicks.
