Joel Embiid clears concussion protocol, attends shootaround, hopeful to play tonight in Game 3
The Philadelphia 76ers’ NBA Finals aspirations came to a halt over the past week with Joel Embiid missing the first two games against the Heat, but after days of speculation, there is still hope Embiid will return to the court tonight, masked up, looking to help dig the Sixers out of a 2-0 series hole against Miami.
As of this morning there are reports that Embiid has cleared concussion protocol and participated in shoot around today. Still, Embiid remains listed as OUT but that could change between now and tipoff tonight.
Embiid is still listed as out and sure, that could change before tipoff tonight, but we’ll likely play the “waiting game” until the final injury report is released at 5:30PM. I can’t see a situation in which the 76ers would show their cards and announce that Embiid is playing before they absolutely have to.
Over the first two games of this series, the 76ers have lost to the Miami Heat by a combined 30 points. After an 18 percent performance from beyond the arc on Monday, they delivered a 27 percent shooting effort tonight from three point range on Wednesday.
To be clear, even if Embiid plays tonight, the 76ers will have a hard time beating a Miami Heat team with tremendous depth if they can’t shoot at least team average from beyond the arc but DAMN, would it certainly help them avoid falling behind 3-0.
Embiid suffered a right orbital fracture and a mild concussion in last week’s series-clinching Game 6 win in Toronto. During his absence, Sixers fans have been forced to watch DeAndre Jordan struggle as his replacement.
Game Three is scheduled to tip-off tonight at 7 P.M. on ESPN.
Mandatory Credit: Getty Images
