The Philadelphia 76ers secured their spot in the 2026 playoffs with a victory over the Orlando Magic. They achieved this without Joel Embiid, raising hopes for his potential return later in the postseason.
Embiid’s Timeline Remains Uncertain
Will Embiid be back to face the Boston Celtics? At this stage, the answer remains unclear.
Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy earlier in the month. The usual recovery period for this procedure is approximately two weeks.
Consequently, Embiid was ruled out for the play-in games. He has also been ruled out for Game 1 against the Celtics.
Head coach Nick Nurse has not provided a specific timeline for Embiid’s return.
Embiid’s Pre-Surgery Form
Before his appendectomy sidelined him, Embiid was finding his rhythm. The 2023 league MVP had scored at least 26 points in four of his last five appearances.
Waiting Game for Embiid
Embiid now faces a waiting game. He’ll be watching to see if his teammates can extend their playoff run, giving him more time to recover and return to the court.