Sixers Issue Major Joel Embiid Update Ahead of Matchup vs. Cavaliers

Joel Embiid is hitting the road with the Philadelphia 76ers this week.

Jan 25, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on in the / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

When the Philadelphia 76ers take the court to battle it out against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, they’ll once again compete without their All-Star center Joel Embiid on the floor.

Friday’s game will mark the 28th game in a row Embiid will miss for the Sixers as he recovers from an MCL injury, which required a surgical procedure back in early February.

The Sixers don’t have a target date in place for Embiid’s return, but all signs are pointing towards the reigning MVP returning before the regular season concludes.

Ahead of the Sixers’ Wednesday night matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse confirmed that a timeline still isn’t in place, but he predicted a return for Embiid at some point before the season reaches the NBA Play-In Tournament phase.

On Thursday, the Sixers returned to their practice facility following their one-point loss against the Clippers and the big man joined them. It wasn’t Embiid’s first time practicing since he started his recovery process, but it was the first time he went up against other players, which is another step forward.

According to Liberty Ballers’ Paul Hudrick, the Sixers plan to have Embiid join the team on its small road trip. While Embiid has been present at practice and home games as of late, he hasn’t hit the road with the Sixers since the late January road trip, when he was sent home early to undergo MRI tests for his knee injury.

Embiid’s presence on the road for the matchups in Cleveland and Toronto doesn’t signal a possible return in the second game. According to Nurse, he’s still without a target date for return. However, the fact that Embiid is encouraged to work closely with the team hints that his return is more than likely approaching soon.