Embiid won't play in Game 1

The Sixers will start the

MIAMI — playoffs tonight without starting center Joel Embiid.

“(Embiid) will not play in Game 1,” Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said on the “Dan Patrick Show” on Friday morning. “He will not play in Game 1 and from that point going forward, we’ll figure some stuff out. Unless something remarkable happens, Dan, I don’t plan on him playing in Game 1.” The Sixers officially ruled out Embiid for Game 1 on Friday after

noon.

Embiid, who averaged 22.9 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 63 regular-season games, missed the final eight games of

the regular season with an orbital bone fracture. He had surgery on the injury two weeks ago and will wear a mask when he does return.

Brown’s comments Friday morning is as definitive as the Sixers have been regarding Embiid’s status for the first game of the series. Embiid previously said it was “unlikely” he would play in Game 1 and Brown had called it “highly unlikely.”

Even without its All-Star center, Philadelphia has been playing well. The Sixers enter the playoffs on a 16-game winning streak, including an 8-0 record in the games Embiid has missed.

The 6-foot-9 Amir Johnson has started in Embiid’s place while he’s been out. Johnson is averaging 6.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 21.8 minutes while filling in for Embiid over the past eight games.