After a statement victory over the Toronto Raptors, the Philadelphia 76ers were all set for the second round. Unfortunately, they will have to do so without their star, at least for a time. It was announced yesterday that 76ers’ superstar Joel Embiid would miss time due to a broken orbital bone and a concussion that he suffered after receiving an elbow to the face by Pascal Siakam. While Joel Embiid will miss time, it seems that he may not require surgery which could make him available during the series against Miami.
Source says it appears surgery is not required for Joel Embiid’s orbital fracture at this time
He had surgery on fracture 4 years ago & returned in 3 weeks vs Heat
He’s out at least 5 days with concussion. No timetable for his return. But there’s some hope for this series
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— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 30, 2022
This news could potentially save the Sixers’ season. While nothing is definite at this point, the very thought of Embiid returning is enough reason for hope. Without Embiid, this Sixers’ team is likely to struggle against the Miami defense, barring multiple masterclass performances by James Harden and Tyrese Maxey.
With Embiid, this series could spin back in the Sixers’ favor as the Heat have no one capable of defending the MVP candidate. Joel Embiid boasts season averages of 23.7 and 13.7 against Jimmy Butler and company.
Time will tell if Joel Embiid is able to return and what level he’s able to play at, but this should be considered good news for now. Perhaps even the knowledge that he’s coming back is enough to ignite the rest of the team in his temporary absence.
