The effectiveness of the Philadelphia 76ers soars with Joel Embiid on the court. His presence significantly influences their gameplay, a fact underscored by his status as the current NBA MVP. However, as the 76ers prepare to host the Miami Heat tonight in the NBA play-in round, Embiid’s participation is uncertain.
76ers coach Nick Nurse expressed hope regarding Embiid’s readiness, stating to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “I’m hopeful, though not certain about anyone’s availability.”
Embiid suffered a left knee strain during a victory over the Orlando Magic last Friday. This game marked only his fifth appearance following a two-month recovery from a meniscus tear. Despite Embiid’s impressive average of 34.7 points and 11.0 rebounds over 39 games, he was sidelined for Sunday’s season ender against the Brooklyn Nets as a precaution.
According to reports, Embiid appeared in good form at Monday’s practice. His teammate Kelly Oubre Jr. noted his effective performance, adding, “He looked like himself. You could see the determination in his expression and his dedication.”
In their last matchup with the Heat on April 4, Embiid was pivotal, scoring 29 points in a 109-105 76ers win.
A repeat performance could help Philadelphia clinch the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed and a first-round playoff spot against the second-seeded New York Knicks. Failure tonight forces them into a Friday elimination game against either the Chicago Bulls or the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed and a match against the top-seeded Boston Celtics.
Jimmy Butler, nicknamed “Playoff Jimmy,” represents a significant hurdle for Philadelphia. Since his trade from the 76ers to the Heat in 2019, Butler has led Miami to two NBA Finals in four seasons. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals this season, driving Miami to victories in seven of their last ten games.
Reflecting on last season’s team, Butler said, “We’re not the same group. We’re focusing on moving forward with who we have now,” as quoted by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Miami also faces health challenges; Kevin Love was injured in their last game, and both Terry Rozier and Duncan Robinson have missed recent games due to injuries.
