May 03, (THEWILL) – Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid, the newly crowned NBA MVP, is set to return to the court for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old missed Game 1 due to a sprained right knee, but he is on track to play in the upcoming game. Despite having never played more than 68 games in a season, Embiid has been one of the league’s best players for the past few years.
This season, for instance, he led the league in points per game with an average of 33.1, along with 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.0 steal per game. With Embiid’s return, the 76ers hope to make a run at an NBA championship.
Although Philadelphia has a talented roster, including James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris, Embiid’s presence is essential to their success. The team proved they can remain afloat in the short term without him, as was shown in their win against the Celtics in Game 1. However, a healthy Embiid will be crucial if they want to go all the way.
Head coach Doc Rivers will be tasked with the responsibility to manage Embiid’s minutes in Game 2, especially with only one day off between the first six games of the series. The Sixers and Celtics will meet in Game 2 early on Thursday morning at 1 a.m. local time.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
