IN THE LANE

DUAL WAITING GAMES: A pair of ongoing NBA injury rehabs not only could impact the Heat’s drive to avoid the play-in round, but also could impact possible Heat participation in that play-in round. Ahead of the 76ers’ Wednesday loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse confirmed that center Joel Embiid had returned to court work from his Feb. 6 knee surgery. Nurse did not offer a timeline, but there is an expectation of Embiid being back the first or second week of April. The Heat host the 76ers on Thursday night.“Just trying to get him strong and confident and in shape and ramped up and all those wonderful words,” Nurse said, with the 76ers also a potential Heat opponent in the No. 7-No. 8 East play-in game on April 16. Then there is Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, who this past week had his one-month evaluation from his Feb. 27 finger surgery. The Heat play at Atlanta on April 9 and could possibly play the Hawks in a April 19 play-in game for the final playoff spot. The Hawks have not released a timeline for Young, other than saying the guard is making progress.

A BIG FAN: Although the selection process is handled on a higher level, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who will coach Team USA at this summer’s Paris Olympics, very much sounded this past week like someone who wants Heat center Bam Adebayo as part of that mix, having served as an Olympic assistant when Adebayo shared in gold at the 2021 Tokyo Games.“Bam was amazing in the Olympics at Tokyo at both ends of the floor, elite switch one-through-five guy, but also great as a push man in transition,” Kerr said before Wednesday night’s game at Kaseya Center.“He’s a great, great player. It was fun to get to know him. He’s quiet but very mature, very professional, very kind person who you enjoy being around, and you see his character, you see his quality as a human being just being around him every day.” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will be a Kerr assistant at the Olympics, as he was at last summer’s World Championships.

PRECIOUS MOMENT: Why, yes, that was former Heat big man Precious Achiuwa receiving a video tribute when he returned Wednesday with the New York Knicks in their road victory at the Toronto Raptors. A stopgap answer for the Knicks in the injury absence of Mitchell Robinson, Achiuwa, 24, appears to have found his best footing since being drafted at No. 20 by the Heat in 2020 and then dealt to the Raptors in the July 2021 trade for Kyle Lowry.“I think it’s him realizing what he needs to do and what it takes to stay on the court, and that’s doing what he does the best,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said, according to the Toronto Star. “When he plays aggressively, when he rebounds the ball, when he keeps the game simple, he’s an extremely good player.”Achiuwa’s Knicks play Tuesday at Kaseya Center.

ZO COMMEMORATION: The Overtown Youth Center, founded in 2003 by then Heat center and current team executive Alonzo Mourning, will hold its 20th-anniversary celebration April 13, showcasing the redesigned center that opened less than a year ago, The event will feature a performance by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ne-Yo. The fundraising event will commemorate two decades of service to children, families, and adults in urban communities across Miami-Dade and South Florida. General admission tickets are available for purchase at $500 and can be ordered at overtownyouth.org/grand-opening. Attendees must be 21 or older.