2 min read • May 01, 2022
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Joel Embiid, the 76ers MVP-caliber center, will reportedly avoid surgery for the orbital fracture he suffered in the Game 6 win over the Raptors.
The news represents the best case scenario for Embiid and the 76ers. Instead of missing at least the first five games of the series, like he would have with surgery, his timeline for return will be roughly 7-10 days, according to the Pro Basketball Docs.
With Game 3 scheduled for Friday May 6 – eight days after the injury – it represents a likely return date for the 28-year-old.
When he returns, he will finish the playoffs wearing a protective mask. The protective mask is not 100% effective and Embiid will still be at risk for reinjury.
He also suffered a concussion and must pass through concussion protocol before returning to play. That typically happens in less than a week, but no two concussions are the same.
Embiid also suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb during the series against the Raptors. He will wear Spica tape to secure it for the rest of the postseason.
It is mostly a matter of pain tolerance, but will also affect his 3-point shooting. He has not made a 3-pointer in his last three games, his longest drought since 2020, when he went six games without a 3.
Embiid also had a left orbital fracture in March 2018, returning after three weeks and finishing the playoffs with a protective mask on.
The 76ers are 8.5-point underdogs against the Heat in Game 1 and are +300 to win the series, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
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