The Philadelphia 76ers had to miss Paul George for their game against the Orlando Magic (which they lost by 41 points) but then some felt some levels of excitement after the team designated Joel Embiid as a probable.
However, the 2023 MVP was then downgraded to out hours before the tip-off, leading to confusion about the big man’s real health status. What’s really going on?
Head coach Nick Nurse says they thought he can play already based on what they saw during Tuesday’s praactice.
“Just not quite there yet,” Nurse said before the Wednesday game. “I mean, you guys know that we said yesterday that he practiced fully, and he participated in—most, well, I don’t know, parts of the shootaround today, but just not quite there.”
“I guess I would say there was a chance he would be ready. I think that’s what we have to do. It was trending toward he was going to play.”
Sixers being careful with Joel Embiid
Embiid is dealing with a left knee issue, something that has been hounding him since last year that made him miss 65 games.
Sixers and the whole medical team said many times before that they want to be careful with Embiid. He has played six games so far this season and the Magic game was the eighth he’s missed.
The player, to be clear, is intent on returning to action soon.
“I think we’re trying to take the best care we can of him and get him out there,” Nurse as quoted by Keith Pompey of Philly Inquirer last week.
“He wants to play. He’s being very diligent. … He’s doing a lot to try to get back on the floor. And I think it will be soon.”
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