Nick Nurse 'Hopeful' As Joel Embiid Returns To Practice Before Celtics-76ers Game 3 originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will play a pivotal Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Friday night.
Sixers star center Joel Embiid missed the first two contests following his recent appendectomy but returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since the procedure on April 9.
"The Sixers say Joel Embiid participated in parts of today’s practice," Phillyvoice.com Sixers beat writer Adam Aaronson posted on Bluesky. "Nick Nurse says the Sixers didn’t do a ton on the court today, just went through a few things. Compared it to a walkthrough. Did not elaborate as to what Joel Embiid’s participation included."
"Nick Nurse said we could know more about Embiid's status/progress later today, and described mood as 'hopeful': 'He wants to play, and we want him to play. I don’t know how close we are to that at this point, but I think there’s some progress being made and let’s hope it keeps going that way,'" The Philadelphia Inquirer Sixers beat reporter Gina Mizell wrote on Bluesky.
The Celtics had a franchise-record setting 32-point win in Game 1 on Sunday but the 76ers bounced back with a 111-97 victory in Game 2 at TD Garden.
Philadelphia star rookie guard VJ Edgecombe said Thursday that Embiid's situation could've been "a lot worse."
"VJ Edgecombe says it’s 'great to see him around' when asked about Joel Embiid. 'I’m just glad that he’s okay. It could have been a lot worse,'" Aaronson posted on Bluesky. "Edgecombe doesn’t ask Embiid when he’s coming back because everyone else already is. He just asks Embiid how he & his family are doing."
Game 3 is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET on Friday in Philadelphia.
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