The Boston Celtics will be back at it tonight against the Sixers in Philadelphia, as the series shifts down I-95 in a 1-1 tie. The Celtics are licking their wounds after having followed up a blowout win in the opener with a rough loss in Game 2, one in which they put forth one of their worst shooting performances of the season, going just 13-for-50 from the 3-point line and scoring 97 points, just the 10th time this season Boston has been held under 100 points.
But while the Celtics will be doing some soul-searching in the wake of the loss, the Sixers are hoping to pile on good news as Game 3 tipoff nears. The team opened the series without Joel Embiid, who had an emergency appendectomy on April 9 and was considered a possibility to miss the entire Boston series. But the Sixers made a move on Embiid on Thursday that raised some homes for Friday.
Embiid has been elevated to “doubtful” on the injury report, an improvement over his previous status, out.
Joel Embiid Upgraded to Doubtful
According to NBA injury report rules, the “doubtful” designation means the player only has about a 25% chance of playing. But given the fact that Embiid was considered possibly lost for a month, even the small chance of getting him back for Game 3 of the Celtics-Sixers series is something of a miracle.
If he can’t play in Game 3, there will be a much stronger chance he can play in Game 4. If, somehow, the Sixers can hang in and win Game 3 even without Embiid, the Celtics would be in danger of losing significant momentum in the series.
Joel Embiid Will Warm Up for Sixers Before Celtics Game 3
ESPN insider Shams Charania reported on Friday that Embiid will be giving it a go for the Sixers against the Celtics in Game 3.
Said Charania: “Joel Embiid, he is listed doubtful, we know he had surgery for appendicitis about two weeks ago. But it is up in the air whether he will be able to play or not. I am told he participated in 76ers shootaround this morning. He had some treatment this afternoon. And then he is going to see, when he gets to the arena, is he going to be able to warm up to try to play? It’s a 1-1 series.
“You know Joel Embiid wants to try to give it a chance if he can, and he’s healthy, whether it is tonight or in Game 4.”
Payton Pritchard: Celtics Are Not Game-Planning for Sixers Star
One on hand, from the outside, the Celtics probably should be very concerned about whether Embiid takes the floor in Game 3. Embiid struggled with injuries this season, and played only 38 games –the third straight year he has not even played half a season — but when he did play, he averaged 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds.
Embiid is a challenge for the Celtics defense, especially after the team struggled to contain the Sixers’ perimeter players–VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey combined to score 59 points in Game 2. But the Celtics did not seemed to concerned with his status.
Said guard Payton Pritchard: “I don’t think we have talked about it all. If he plays, he plays. We’ll figure that out. But it’s not like we’re sitting here worried if he’s playing or not. I am not sure. We haven’t even game-planned for him yet. We’re focused on who are playing tonight.”
Celtics, Sixers Eyeing Playoff Series Change With Joel Embiid Return