Doc Rivers Provides Update on Joel Embiid's Status for Start of Celtics-Sixers Series

Game 1 between the Celtics and Sixers is Monday at TD Garden.

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Joel Embiid sat out the Sixers' 96-88 Game 4 win over the Nets, completing their first-round sweep.

After the victory, Philadelphia's head coach, Doc Rivers, provided a concerning update about his team's star center, who is dealing with a sprained right knee.

The good news for the Sixers is the Celtics' Game 5 fourth-quarter collapse against the Hawks in their 119-117 loss bought the star center more time.

Had Boston finished off Atlanta Tuesday night, the second-round series between these two division rivals would've begun on Saturday. Even if the defending Eastern Conference champions hadn't closed out Game 6 against the Hawks on an 18-7 run, earning a 128-120 win, Philadelphia's Eastern Conference Semifinal series would've started Monday.

On Saturday, Rivers provided another update on Embiid's status, conveying he didn’t do anything today, and "if he’s a betting man, (he) would say he’s doubtful" for Game 1 at TD Garden, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

Perhaps that's gamesmanship on the part of the Sixers' bench boss, but his team only needs to win one game in Boston to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, so buying his star center more time to recover, delaying his return to the lineup, could prove beneficial.

And there was also this update from Jason Dumas, the sports director at KRON4 News in San Francisco.

Source: Joel Embiid is experiencing a lot of pain in that right knee. His LCL sprain is typically a 4-6 week recovery. I’m told it would be a pleasant surprise if he were able to play in either of the first two games in Boston.

— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) April 29, 2023

Game 1 of this Eastern Conference Semifinal series tips off at 7:30 p.m. EST. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the game before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.

Further Reading

Here's What We Know About the Celtics-Sixers Second-Round Schedule

Celtics Praise Joe Mazzulla's Poise, Adaptability After Advancing Past Hawks: 'That's What It's All About, Especially in the Playoffs'

In Game 6, Hawks Tried to Rattle Al Horford; It Backfired: 'You Talk Trash to Me, Probably Not Good for You'

Celtics Discuss Difference-Maker in Game 6 vs. Hawks: 'In the Playoffs, You've Got Basketball, You've Got Execution, And Then You've Got This Like Fight That's Kind of Going On'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 6 Win vs. Hawks: Boston Delivers Late Haymaker, are on to a Date with the Sixers

Jayson Tatum Shares His Perspective on Bucks' First-Round Exit

Film Room: Roots of Celtics' Game 5 Fourth Quarter Collapse

Celtics Praise Robert Williams for Impact in What They Deemed a Must-Win Game 4: 'Can't Even Give Words to What Rob Does on Our Team'