Philadelphia 76ers Playoff Snapshot Amid Joel Embiid's Return

The Philadelphia 76ers got Joel Embiid back on Tuesday night.

Jan 30, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during / Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

On Monday morning, new developments emerged regarding the status of Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid. After being sidelined with a knee injury since January 30th, the reigning MVP returned for the Sixers' Tuesday night matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Embiid stated on multiple occasions that he hoped to play again this season. Fortunately, the Sixers will have their superstar big man back in time for the postseason.

Prior to Embiid’s injury, the Sixers sat in third place in the Eastern Conference. Since then, they’ve dropped to eighth place. That said, they’ll continue to jockey for position in these final weeks of the regular season.

The Sixers have seven games remaining on their schedule. Two of the matchups are crucial, as they’re against teams just ahead of them in the standings. Those being the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic. Aside from these two, some of their other final opponents include the OKC Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

While Philly sits in the play-in tournament now, they can still change their fate. The Heat are a game and a half ahead of them, and the Indiana Pacers are two games ahead of them in sixth place.

Securing the sixth seed would be the best-case scenario for the Sixers. If they managed to jump two spots, they’d face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fighting their way through the play-in would be a far more daunting task for Embiid and company.

The Boston Celtics have locked up the No. 1 seed in the East, and the Milwaukee Bucks have a comfortable lead in second place. Meaning, the Sixers will have to face one of their rivals in round one if they’re unable to escape the play-in.

It’s a tall task for Embiid and the Sixers, but these next few weeks give them a chance to build some kind of momentum. These matchups will be crucial for the All-Star center and the team’s new additions to get acclimated before the playoffs get underway.