PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid has been reevaluated by medical doctors and they’re “proud of the progress” the 76ers middle is making following meniscus surgical procedure on his left knee, Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse mentioned Saturday.
“I believe there’s at all times phases of how this stuff progress,” Nurse mentioned earlier than the Sixers’ 109-98 win over the Charlotte Hornets. “Everybody needs to know ‘Properly how lengthy is it going to be?” And so they give a variety due to that, as a result of everybody heals in a different way. We’re simply attempting to take it because it comes, get him wholesome and get him again when he is able to go.”
Requested if he believes that Embiid might be again with the group earlier than the playoffs, Nurse was cautious.
“I am nonetheless hoping so and fairly assured, sure,” the coach mentioned.
Embiid’s standing has been a supply of hypothesis after an anticipated group medical replace 4 weeks after the Feb. 6 surgical procedure by no means got here. Embiid mentioned on Feb. 29 that he believed that he can be again for the playoffs, however the group’s silence on the matter had created some questions on the place the rehab course of was.
Embiid, who celebrated his thirtieth birthday on Saturday, has missed 21 video games since tearing the meniscus towards Golden State on Jan. 30. Within the time since, Philadelphia has fallen from third within the Japanese Convention to eighth, going 8-13 within the 21 video games with out the 2022-23 NBA MVP
Embiid was noticed greeting teammates on the courtroom after Philadelphia’s 109-98 win over Charlotte on Saturday evening, however was not within the group’s locker room when reporters had been allowed in after the sport.
The Related Press contributed to this story.