Joel Embiid is back in the starting lineup for the Sixers on Tuesday, but Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that he might not be available for Thursday night’s crucial matchup in Miami. After playing almost 30 minutes and scoring 24 points in his first game back after undergoing meniscus surgery in late January, the reigning MVP is listed as doubtful for the match.
The outcome of tomorrow’s match will have a significant impact on which teams advance to the play-in round. Now sitting at 42-33, the Heat are sixth in the standings, ahead of the Pacers at 43-34 and Philadelphia at 41-35. With a victory, Miami can secure the tiebreaker against the Sixers.
Even if Embiid is cleared, Pompey notes that Philadelphia might be without a few rotation players. Tobias Harris, who has a hyperextended left knee, Mohamed Bamba, who missed Tuesday’s game due to illness, and Tyrese Maxey, who has missed the previous two games due to tightness in his left hip, are all listed as questionable.
I have additional injury updates to share:
According to Eric Nehm of The Journal-Sentinel, Bucks coach Doc Rivers gave an update on Damian Lillard, who missed practice on Tuesday and tonight due to a right groin strain. According to Rivers, Lillard is “feeling a lot better” today, and it looks like he might be able to play on Friday. I believe he’s closer, Rivers remarked. However, I can’t guarantee that. That’s one injury, so the answer is probably no if it’s not at least 90% or 100% of whatever percentile they put him in. We simply won’t take any chances with that one. It’s not worthwhile.
According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (Twitter link), Josh Hart is the newest player added to the Knicks’ injury report. He is listed as questionable for Friday’s game at Chicago due to a sprained right wrist. According to Bondy, during the morning shootaround prior to Tuesday’s game, Hart was icing his wrist.
Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe, who hasn’t played since January 11 due to core muscle surgery, is moving closer to a return, coach Chauncey Billups told reporters, including Casey Holdahl (Twitter link). Sharpe is improving and joining us on the court, according to Billups. He performed a few things during our recent practice, and I was quite happy with how he looked. We’ll simply keep pushing him harder and giving him physical challenges to see if he can handle it.
According to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star, Pacers center Myles Turner missed Wednesday’s game against Brooklyn due to a dislocated right index finger sustained on Monday during a dunking session.
Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News tweets that Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan has confirmed that his surgery on his left ankle went well today. Orsborn continues, “Sochan is hoping to recover in time to play for the Polish national team in this summer’s Olympic qualifying tournament.”
Kings guard Kevin Huerter had successful surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee (Twitter link). By the time the next season begins, the team anticipates he will be ready.
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