Sixers star Joel Embiid was upgraded to doubtful for Game 3 on Friday night after clearing concussion protocol and participating in the team’s shootaround.
The center did not travel to Miami for the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinal series and the Heat won both contests. On Thursday’s official injury report, he was listed as out for Friday’s game in Philadelphia.
Embiid, 28, reportedly has been fitted for a mask to protect his fractured right orbital bone. He also has a torn ligament in his right thumb.
“We’re just preparing to win the game,” Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey said Friday, per ESPN. “Hopefully he plays. If he plays, great. If he doesn’t play, he doesn’t play. We’re just preparing as (if it’s) another game — a game that we have to win.”
Embiid’s head injuries resulted from a play with 3:58 left in the 76ers’ clinching Game 6 win against the Toronto Raptors on April 28. Philadelphia led 119-90 when Toronto’s Pascal Siakam caught Embiid in the face with an elbow on a drive to the basket.
A five-time All-Star, Embiid won the NBA scoring title this season with 30.6 points to go with 11.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He averaged 26.2 points and 11.3 rebounds in the first-round series against Toronto.
–Field Level Media
