David Chao, MD
2 min read • May 03, 2023
Posted in
A day after winning MVP, 76ers center Joel Embiid is reportedly on track to return to the court for Game 2 in Boston against the Celtics.
However, the Pro Basketball Docs are not optimistic about his chances to play effectively in his first game back since the April 20 right knee sprain. He carries a SIC score of 60 for Game 2, indicating he will have limited mobility and likely be limited to short stints of playing time.
Embiid reportedly received a PRP injection last week in his injured right knee. PRP injections require at least two weeks to take effect, meaning he will not begin to see the benefits of the injection until Game 5 at the earliest.
Embiid’s skills coach, Drew Hanlen, shared a post congratulating the big man on his first MVP trophy, but also revealed that Embiid has been practicing with a brace on his right knee.
The 29-year-old wearing a brace is not a surprise and is something our panel of doctors has termed a necessity based on video of his original injury.
Even two weeks after his Game 3 injury, Embiid has instability in his right knee and needs the brace to ensure no further damage is done.
By video, he suffered an ACL sprain along with his LCL sprain, leading to his lengthy recovery. LCL sprains typically occur along with damage to the ACL and turning a minor tear into a bigger tear would be the worst case scenario for Philadelphia and their playoff hopes.
Philadelphia was able to capture Game 1 on the road through the stellar play of James Harden.
Backup center Paul Reed was also a factor, as he tallied 10 points and 13 rebounds in 37 minutes.
However, the 76ers will need their MVP to stand a chance in the series.
Boston is favored by 10 points at home in Game 2 and the over/under is 216.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Ahead of Game 2, the 76ers are +164 to win the series and the Celtics are -196.
The Celtics have the best odds to win the NBA Finals at +185, while the 76ers are +500.
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Written by David Chao, MD
MVP! So damn proud @joelembiid! No one saw all the work you did in empty gyms, all the late nights you spent watching film, all the sacrifices you made & all the set backs you had to overcome, but they are seeing the results that all your hard work in the Unseen Hours produced!
