This isn’t a surprise, but it’s certainly not good news for Philadelphia.
Joel Embiid is officially out for Game 1 Monday night against the Celtics due to his sprained knee. His status for Game 2 on Wednesday is up in the air, but 76ers coach Doc Rivers said Embiid has not run yet on this knee.
Doc Rivers: Joel Embiid shot a bit today after shootaround but still hasn’t progressed to running. Unsure of his chances for Game 2.
— Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) May 1, 2023
Embiid suffered a sprained lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in Game 3 of the 76ers’ first-round sweep of the Nets. It’s an uncommon sprain in the NBA, and the recovery time can be anywhere from two to six weeks, depending upon the severity of the sprain (something we don’t know, although Shams Charania of The Athletic reported it is more than a simple Grade 1 sprain.
No Embiid will put a big load on “B-Ball” Paul Reed, who will get heavy minutes at center. The 76ers need big offensive games from James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and others to keep up with a Boston team likely able to put up points in this series.