The Philadelphia 76ers will have a quick turnaround. After taking down the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the first round, the team will be back in action for Game 1 of the second round against the New York Knicks on Monday, May 4.
Heading into Game 1, the status of the star center, Joel Embiid, has been in question. During the Game 7 battle on the road in Boston, Embiid was seen receiving medical attention on multiple occasions.
Fortunately, the Sixers’ initial injury report for Game 1 shows a positive status for Embiid.
Will Joel Embiid Face The Knicks In Game 1?
According to the official NBA injury report, Embiid is listed as probable for Game 1. He has held the same status since Game 5 of the series against the Celtics.
The only change for Embiid is the injury designation. He is dealing with a right hip contusion, according to the report.
The fact that Embiid is still probable to play without a knee-related injury is a positive sign. During the final quarter of Game 7, Embiid’s teammate, Tyrese Maxey, fell into his knee. Throughout the final minutes of the game, Embiid was limping.
After the game, the big man stated that he wasn’t dealing with an injury.
“I feel great. I feel amazing. I was faking it,” Embiid told reporters.
While Embiid was clearly joking about faking an injury, the fact that he was in good spirits and being lighthearted was a positive sign, signaling he wasn’t dealing with anything to be worried about before starting the second round.
The Sixers Are On A Roll
When Embiid made his playoff debut, the Sixers were entering Game 4. The star center was returning from a 17-day recovery after undergoing surgery for appendicitis.
The Sixers lost the first game, but fired off three straight wins to make a comeback from 1-3 against Boston.
During the first round, Embiid shot 44.3% from the field to produce 28.0 points per game. He came down with 9.0 rebounds, produced 7.0 assists, and blocked nearly one shot per game.
On Monday, the Sixers and the Knicks are slated for an 8 PM ET tip.