76ers HC Nick Nurse provides encouraging Joel Embiid update

Roughly five weeks after undergoing a procedure to repair a meniscus injury, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is making positive strides toward returning to the hardwood. 

On Saturday, head coach Nick Nurse revealed that doctors were pleased with Embiid's progress during a scheduled re-evaluation last week. He also confirmed that the plan is still for the reigning MVP to be back playing before the end of the regular season. 

"I'm still hoping so, and I'm still pretty confident in that," Nurse said via Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports.

Recently, word spread that Embiid has been taking part in on-court drills as he continues his comeback. Nurse said he believed the "whispers" were true but added that he hadn't seen any footage to back them up. 

Embiid's knee injury had been an issue throughout the year, finally coming to a head when the 76ers announced he'd undergo surgery on Feb. 4. Since then, updates have been few and far between. Earlier this week, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN said Embiid wasn't "anywhere close" to returning but that he could participate in light on-court workouts. 

"The hope that they have in Philly is that they can just stay in the mix for Joel Embiid to come back the last week or so in the season," Shelburne said, "at least where he has a chance to get back some conditioning before the playoffs."

The timeline laid out by Shelburne puts Embiid on pace to return around April 7 and Nurse's update seems to keep the door open for that possibility. That would give him four games against the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets to ramp things up ahead of the postseason. 

For Philly, Embiid's return can't come soon enough. Without him, the Sixers have gone a miserable 7-13, losing five of the last six games while falling to eighth in the Eastern Conference standings (36-30).