The Philadelphia 76ers will enter Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night exactly the way they entered Game 1 — without Joel Embiid. The franchise center has been ruled out again with an abdominal injury stemming from his emergency appendectomy, according to the Game 2 injury report posted by ESPN. His estimated return date is listed as April 24.
That date is significant. Game 3 shifts to Philadelphia, and April 24 is the earliest Embiid could realistically be cleared. But with Boston already leading the series 1-0 after a dominant 123-91 dismantling of the 76ers in Game 1 on Saturday, Philadelphia cannot exactly afford to fall into a 2-0 hole. Winning Tuesday at TD Garden without Embiid would rank among the more surprising playoff upsets in recent memory.
Joel Embiid’s Appendectomy Timeline Puts Philadelphia 76ers Playoff Hopes in Doubt
Embiid underwent emergency appendix surgery on April 9 and was discharged from the hospital the following day. He appeared at the 76ers’ April 15 play-in victory over the Orlando Magic, watching from the bench in street clothes. That was a positive sign, but a long way from suiting up in an NBA playoff game.
Based on a review of past NBA appendectomy cases, including players such as Grant Hill and OG Anunoby, the average recovery time for in-season surgery runs approximately 23 days, with a median of 18 days, according to NBA injury analyst Joel Stotts. At 32 years old, with an extensive medical history, Embiid is not a candidate for a swift recovery, putting his earliest realistic return at Game 7, if the series goes that far.
The 76ers finished the regular season at 45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics went 56-26, second in the East, and were 30-11 at home. Philadelphia was already a significant underdog entering this series. Without Embiid for at least its first two games, the hill to climb only gets steeper.
Philadelphia 76ers Face Long Odds in Game 2 vs. Boston Celtics
DraftKings has Boston installed as a 13.5-point favorite for Game 2, a full point larger than the Game 1 spread, per ESPN‘s odds data. The 76ers’ moneyline sits at +575 against Boston’s -850. ESPN Analytics gives Philadelphia just a 20.8% chance of winning the game outright.
Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers’ leading scorer at 28.3 points per game on 46.2% shooting, carries the offensive burden again. Andre Drummond, who averaged 8.4 rebounds per game this season, starts at center in Embiid’s place. Neither Drummond nor any other Philadelphia reserve replicates what Embiid provides on either end of the floor.
Boston counters with Jaylen Brown, who averaged 28.7 points per game on 47.7% shooting this season, and Jayson Tatum, continuing his comeback from Achilles tendon repair surgery 11 months ago.
The Celtics also boast a rotation deep enough to send multiple credible defenders at Maxey throughout the night. Boston’s frontcourt had no Philadelphia elite rim deterrent to deal with in the Game 1 blowout, and nothing changes on Tuesday.
Game 2 tips off at 7 p.m. ET at TD Garden and airs on Peacock and NBCSN. The series shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4, and with it, the 76ers’ best hope of seeing Embiid return to the floor.
Philadelphia 76ers Receive Worrying Joel Embiid Update Before Celtics Game 2