The Philadelphia 76ers picked up an improbable victory on the road in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal against the Boston Celtics, 119-115. Not many people were giving them a chance to win as they were playing without the now-crowned 2022-23 NBA MVP, Joel Embiid.
Embiid suffered a knee injury in Game 3 of the 76ers’ opening-round series against the Brooklyn Nets. He missed the deciding Game 4 and has been working hard to get back on the court. But, there just wasn’t enough progress made to get out there in Game 1.
It ultimately didn’t cost the 76ers as they received a vintage performance from James Harden, who poured in 45 points in the victory. Alas, heading into Game 2 up 1-0, Philadelphia will be getting a massive boost as Embiid is expected to take the court.
During his MVP celebration last night, Embiid let the team know that he was back. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the MVP is on track to take the court for Game 2 tonight barring any setbacks.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers & Boston Celtics Updates
Embiid received a PRP injection with the goal of speeding up his recovery process. What was originally labeled as a knee sprain turned out to be worse than a Grade 1 LCL sprain. While Embiid will likely be far from 100 percent healthy, this isn’t the first time that he will be battling through an injury in the postseason.
In 2021, Embiid played through a torn meniscus in his knee. Last season he suffered a fractured orbital bone and had ligament damage to his thumb. Injuries have been synonymous with Embiid throughout his career, but when it comes to the playoffs, he has done everything in his power to be out there with his teammates.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers & Boston Celtics Updates
What happened in Game 1 didn’t have any bearing on when Embiid would return to the court. Head coach Doc Rivers said it was health based. If Embiid was cleared to play, he would be out there. If he wasn’t they would figure out how to move ahead without him just as they did in Game 1.
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