Ryan YoungStaff writerSun, April 26, 2026 at 10:53 PM UTC·1 min readJoel Embiid is back.
The Philadelphia 76ers star was cleared to return for the team’s Game 4 matchup with the Boston Celtics on Sunday night, less than a month after he underwent an emergency appendectomy.
Embiid has been working on his comeback so far in the playoffs, and began a strength and conditioning program last week. He was listed as “doubtful” ahead of Friday’s 108-100 loss to the Celtics, and did not play.
But the team announced less than an hour before Game 4 was scheduled to tip off that Embiid was both available and in the starting lineup.
Embiid underwent surgery in Houston on April 9 after he was diagnosed with appendicitis, something that can typically take up to six weeks to recover from. That knocked Embiid out for the rest of the regular season and the start of the playoffs. The Celtics rolled to a 22-point win in Game 1, but V.J. Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey tied up the series in Boston with a huge 14-point win in Game 2.
Embiid averaged 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in just 38 games in the regular season for the 76ers. It marked his third straight season in which he’s appeared in less than 40 contests due to injuries. Before his appendicitis, Embiid also dealt with an oblique strain, a sore right knee and shin issue, and a right knee injury. Embiid played in just 19 games last season with lingering left knee issues, too.
The Celtics lead the series 2-1 entering Sunday night’s game in Philadelphia.