UPDATE: Significant Joel Embiid Injury Update Ahead Of Celtics-76ers Game 3

The Philadelphia 76ers will host the Boston Celtics for Game 3 on Friday night.

Ben Stinar | May 4, 2023

UPDATE: Significant Joel Embiid Injury Update Ahead Of Celtics-76ers Game 3 /

UPDATE: Joel Embiid is available for Game 3.

On Friday evening, the Philadelphia 76ers will host the Boston Celtics for Game 3 of their second-round playoff series.

2023 MVP Joel Embiid returned to the starting lineup in Game 2 after missing two straight games due to a knee injury.

In his return, the former Kansas star played 27 minutes and had 15 points, three rebounds and five blocks while shooting 4/9 from the field.

For Friday's game, he is listed as questionable on the injury report, and Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia posted a video of Embiid on the court at practice on Thursday (h/t RotoWire).

Via Levick: "Joel Embiid putting up shots with a brace on right knee post-film session.

Doc Rivers said Embiid’s knee responded well to playing in Game 2, that the team was pleased with his physical tracking data (explosive movements, etc.) Those numbers were close to normal, per Rivers."

Joel Embiid putting up shots with a brace on right knee post-film session.

Doc Rivers said Embiid’s knee responded well to playing in Game 2, that the team was pleased with his physical tracking data (explosive movements, etc.) Those numbers were close to normal, per Rivers. pic.twitter.com/E79NzMRKIg
— Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) May 4, 2023

Embiid's status going forward will have a significant impact on the series and the entire NBA Playoffs as a whole.

Joel Embiid is playing through his injury for his team:

“With this injury, I’m supposed to be out 4-6 weeks.”

(via @KyleNeubeck) pic.twitter.com/FqwjL6wX2o
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 4, 2023

The 29-year-old is coming off a sensational regular season where he averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.7 blocks per contest while shooting 54.8% from the field.

Despite his return on Wednesday night, the 76ers got blown out 121-87.

That said, they still did an excellent job of winning the first game (James Harden had 45 points on 17/30 shooting).

Whoever wins the series will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and face off against either the New York Knicks or the Miami Heat.