Report: 76ers optimistic Joel Embiid can return by Game 3 or 4 vs. Heat
The fractured orbital suffered by Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid may not have doomed the team's chances after all. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the 76ers have ruled out Embiid for the first two games of a series against the Miami Heat, but the team believes he may be ready to return as early as Game 3 on Friday.
Embiid, 28, averaged 26.2 points and 11.3 rebounds per game during the 76ers' six-game series win against the Toronto Raptors, but suffered his injury in the final minutes of Game 6 when he took an elbow to the face from Pascal Siakam.
Immediately after the game, Embiid spoke with Gus Johnson of NBA TV and said "I think he broke my face."
In 2018, Embiid suffered an orbital fracture that required surgery and kept him out of action for three weeks. Fortunately for Philadelphia, his more recent facial injury won't require surgery, although he does need to be cleared to return from the concussion he suffered as well.
Wojnarowski says Embiid will not travel with the team to Miami for the first two games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Embiid is a finalist for the NBA MVP Award after averaging an NBA-leading 30.6 points per game, along with 11.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 blocks.
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