Doc still mum on Embiid’s outlook

CAMDEN, N.J. » Sixers coach Doc Rivers said Sunday he spoke with star center Joel Embiid, which is encouraging considering the concussion the big guy suffered last Thursday.

Rivers offered no update, though, and the Sixers maintain that Embiid and his fractured orbital bone are out indefinitely.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Embiid wouldn’t travel to Miami for the first two games, but could be back in the Sixers lineup by Game 3 of the best-of-7 series with the Heat providing he clears concussion protocols. That would be next Friday at Wells Fargo Center. Wojnarowski thinks there’s a better chance Embiid plays next Sunday.

Any Embiid availability would be welcome for the Sixers, who open the series Monday at FTX Arena. Rivers has one healthy big in 33-year-old veteran DeAndre Jordan, who has played sparingly. That said, the Sixers get a break as veteran Heat point guard Kyle Lowery has been ruled out Monday with a hamstring issue and Jimmy Butler has an ailing knee.

“We’re really going to miss Joel,” Georges Niang said. “There’s no doubt about that. We’re going to have to get it done by committee. We have a lot of guys in this room that have experience, that are willing to go out there and play hard every night. We’re eagerly await

ing Joel to come back but the show must go on. That can’t stop us from going down there and getting Game 1 and Game 2.”

The Heat are 7.5-point favorites over the Sixers, who defeated them earlier this season without Embiid or James Harden. Rest assured Rivers showed the guys video of that game.

Niang has done his part in the playoffs. The 6-7 forward buried 12 of 18 three-point shots (.667) to keep the Raptors honest.

With Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris the Sixers have no shortage of scorers.

“It’s exciting because other guys have opportunities to step up,” Niang said. “Guys

coming off the bench, we all have a job to do and it’s to get in there and get the win. Obviously, we’ve had some success without Joel but we’re going to need him.”

•••

The NBA isn’t messing around with misleading injury reports, having fined the Suns $25,000 for “violating league injury reporting rules” with respect to an injury to Devin Booker.