Boston Celtics
Embiid underwent an appendectomy on April 9.
The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics will play the No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers with out Joel Embiid for no less than Recreation 1 of their first-round playoff collection.
Embiid, who’s recovering from an appendectomy surgery he underwent on April 9, might be out for Sunday’s collection opener in Boston. 76ers head coach Nick Nurse made the announcement to reporters at observe Friday.
“I’m getting ready for Sunday’s recreation, and I do know he’s not taking part in in that one,” Nurse stated of Embiid (via Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin). “So, that’s all. We’re similar to zeroed in on attempting to see, can we go in there and prepare to battle and combat and execute as greatest we are able to? After which we’ll begin figuring—something that modifications, you recognize, the collection turns into a collection. Something that modifications begins most likely proper in the midst of that recreation, after which we take it from there.”
It’s unclear when Embiid will return to play. He was launched from the hospital someday after his surgical procedure was accomplished and missed Philadelphia’s closing three common season video games. Embiid was additionally sidelined for the Sixers’ play-in victory towards the Orlando Magic again on Wednesday.
He has not participated in 76ers observe since.
Embiid, 32, missed 44 complete common season video games as he managed persistent knee accidents and numerous different points. His knee illnesses have plagued his profession — he hasn’t performed greater than 39 video games in a single common season since 2022-23.
Embiid averaged 26.9 factors, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.6 steals per recreation in his shortened 2025-26 common season. He possessed a 48.9 discipline objective share and tried 8.8 free throws per contest.
Embiid has competed towards Boston in three collection: the 2018 Japanese Convention Semifinals, the 2020 Japanese first spherical, and the 2023 Japanese Semifinals.
In 15 complete playoff video games versus the Celtics, Embiid is averaging 25.9 factors, 11.5 rebounds, and a pair of.3 assists, plus 1.9 blocks and 0.8 steals defensively. He owns a 43.8 discipline objective share and an 82.3 free throw share.
The Celtics have defeated the 76ers within the six postseason collection they’ve performed towards one another relationship again to 1985.
Recreation 1 is scheduled for a 1 p.m. Japanese Time tipoff from TD Backyard Sunday. See the total Celtics-76ers Spherical 1 schedule here.
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