No change in Embiid’s status
76ers coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday that there is no change in center Joel Embiid’s status ahead of Wednesday’s Game 2 of the second-round playoff series against the Celtics.
“I’m assuming he’s doubtful,” Rivers said. “I don’t even know what the words are. Whatever they are, they haven’t changed.”
Embiid, who is dealing with a sprained LCL in his right knee, did not play in Philadelphia’s Game 1 win Monday. The team listed him as doubtful before ruling him about 90 minutes before tipoff.
Rivers said the plan was for Embiid, who was named NBA MVP, to work out Tuesday — and try running for the first time since suffering the injury April 20.
“The fact that he’s doing that is a step forward, for sure,” Rivers said.
Embiid made an appearance during the team’s shootaround before Game 1 and got some shots up in a limited capacity. But he is not “basketball-ready,” according to Rivers. Whenever Embiid is cleared to return, Rivers expects fatigue to be a factor as a result of the extended time off.
Games 1-6 of the series are scheduled to be played every other day. If necessary, there would be a two-day break before Game 7.
Rivers said the result of Game 1 will not impact Embiid’s availability.
“It’s just health-based,” he said. “If he can play, he plays. If he can’t, he can’t. If it’s 50-50, we would probably err on the other side because we’ve done that all year. We’re not going to take any chances, but if he’s ready, he’ll play.”
Smart questionable
Marcus Smart is questionable for Game 2 with a chest contusion, the team said Tuesday. Smart was questionable with a lower-back contusion for Game 4 of Boston’s first-round series against Atlanta, but played without restrictions.
Low blow
With five minutes to go in the fourth quarter Monday, P.J. Tucker inadvertently hit Jayson Tatum in the groin, prompting Tatum to fall to the floor and curl up next to the stanchion. He remained down for a few moments, as Celtics trainer Nick Sang checked on him.
According to coach Joe Mazzulla, officials said they couldn’t review the contact “just because” the Celtics wanted them to. Does that mean the officials didn’t see the sequence?
According to the NBA’s Last Two-Minute Report, which reviews all calls made in the final two minutes of games that are within 3 points, officials missed three calls Monday.
Sixers center Paul Reed should have been whistled for a defensive three-second violation, Tatum should have been whistled for a three-second violation, and Sixers guard James Harden should have been whistled for a shooting foul while defending a Tatum drive to the basket.