And we do this dance again.
Another injury report has dropped ahead of Game 4 of the Sixers first round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, and for it they have again listed Joel Embiid as doubtful with appendectomy surgery recovery. Embiid had this same designation ahead of Game 3 before eventually being ruled out. Nick Nurse said before that game that Embiid was doing on-court work, both individually and with teammates, but he “just wasn’t ready yet.”
Nurse gave reporters a very similar update at the team’s subsequent practice. Per PhillyVoice.com’s Adam Aaronson, Nurse that again that Embiid has done individual work on the court, is working very hard to get back, and will see how he feels after the session. It would appear that shootaround the morning of will be crucial for determining his Game 4 status.
A sign to look for whether Embiid plays or not is if he’s upgraded from doubtful at any point in the day. Adam Aaronson also put together a very handy key of all the times Embiid was listed as doubtful this season. The two times he played after getting that designation, he was upgraded to questionable or probable several hours in advance.
For the first time all series, Embiid is not the only player on the injury report. Kelly Oubre Jr. is listed as questionable with right adductor soreness. Oubre played nearly 40 minutes in Game 3, including crunch time, so it’s hard to tell when this might have happened.
In related news, the topic how much longer Tyrese Maxey will have to wear his finger splint was broached. Maxey has been wearing it since returning from a pinkie sprain on March 28 and confirmed he will have to wear it for the rest of the season. Regardless of how many Sixers can take the court in Game 4, they’ll be playing through the typical amount of bumps and bruises for this time of year.
