The Philadelphia 76ers did all that they could near the end of the regular season to avoid the NBA Play-In Tournament. They ended the season on an eight-game winning streak, but the hole they were in was too deep to climb out of.
A consolation prize is that the 76ers are the No. 7 seed, which means they will host as many of the NBA Play-In Tournament games they have to participate in. Their first one will be on Wednesday night against the No. 8-seeded Miami Heat.
The biggest question heading into that matchup is the availability of reigning NBA MVP, Joel Embiid. Embiid injured his meniscus and had to undergo surgery back in February. He was able to get back on the court on April 2nd, helping propel his team on their season-ending winning streak.
It was certainly encouraging to see him back on the court, but the team did exhibit some caution. He sat out the second night of their back-to-back and was a surprise scratch in their season finale against the Brooklyn Nets.
With Embiid getting a scare against the Orlando Magic in the game prior, the 76ers opted to hold him out to make sure he was 100 percent ready for the NBA Play-In Tournament. Despite missing Sunday’s game, it sounds as if he is on track to play Wednesday.
Head coach Nick Nurse revealed that Embiid participated in practice with the team on Monday. Taking part in the session is a major step toward ensuring that their best player is in the lineup against the Heat.
Embiid picked up right where he left off in the five games played since his return. He scored at least 24 points in all of them, showcasing a deft shooting touch with 13 3-pointers made over his final four games.
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