Joel Embiid to miss Games 1 and 2 vs. Heat

Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: Joel Embiid won’t travel for Games 1 and 2 in Miami, but there’s optimism he could return as soon as either Game 3 or 4 in Philadelphia. He needs to clear concussion protocols and see doctor mid-week on his orbital fracture. More on NBA Countdown at 12:30 ET on ABC.
Source: Twitter @wojespn

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Harden was asked about having to toggle vastly different mindsets across Houston, BKN, and Philly (w/ Embiid and w/o Embiid): pic.twitter.com/pwrm1zSt0A – 2:50 PM Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
ESPN story on the optimism that Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid could return as soon as Game 3 or 4: es.pn/3LGU8ri – 1:58 PM Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
No Lowry in Game 1. A potential Embiid return in Philly. The Sixers have even more urgency to try to go steal one in Miami phillyvoice.com/report-joel-em… – 1:38 PM Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Joel Embiid won’t travel to Miami for Game 1 and 2
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/13… – 1:17 PM Shandel Richardson @ShandelRich
Report: Sixers’ Joel Embiid Could Return For Game 3: si.com/nba/heat/miami… – 1:09 PM Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Big loss for the Sixers. No Joel Embiid in Game 1 and Game 2. It’s a loss not only about his ability to score but leadership wise. James Harden has to make a step up and lead the team in Miami. #PhilaUnite
sdna.gr/mpasket/961187… – 1:09 PM Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
Updated #NBA column: Doc Rivers and the #Sixers is going to have to be willing to try just about anything without Joel Embiid vs #Heat, who won’t have Kyle Lowry for Monday’s Game 1: https://t.co/oxvqGAR40a #76ers pic.twitter.com/qQDuA7buQD – 1:06 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Joel Embiid not traveling to Miami, reportedly targets return for Game 3 or 4 nba.nbcsports.com/2022/05/01/joe… – 1:04 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
NEW: Heat without Lowry, 76ers without Embiid to begin their second-round playoff series. What it means for the matchup miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… – 1:01 PM Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Game 1 of Sixers/Heat: No Joel Embiid (orbital fracture) and no Kyle Lowry (hamstring).
Embiid is the SEVENTH All-Star to miss at least one playoff game this postseason … three shy of tying last season’s record: marcstein.substack.com/p/first-round-… – 12:49 PM CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Joel Embiid injury update: 76ers star to miss first two games vs. Heat after facial fracture, per report
cbssports.com/nba/news/joel-… – 12:44 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
With limited 76ers film on Harden in these situations without Embiid, Spoelstra said Heat has looked back at some of Harden’s Rockets film when usage rate was among the top in the NBA. Spoelstra said Tucker’s familiarity with Harden as his former Rockets teammate has also helped. – 12:33 PM Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
ESPN Sources: Joel Embiid won’t travel for Games 1 and 2 in Miami, but there’s optimism he could return as soon as either Game 3 or 4 in Philadelphia. He needs to clear concussion protocols and see doctor mid-week on his orbital fracture. More on NBA Countdown at 12:30 ET on ABC. – 12:19 PM Noah Levick @NoahLevick
James Harden: Sixers need to play “freely,” with “the ultimate confidence” vs. the Heat.
Harden said the Sixers are being “counted out” with Joel Embiid sidelined. pic.twitter.com/4YMilA6bHA – 12:17 PM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
A Heat-76ers playoff primer: Important questions surrounding series, what Joel Embiid’s absence means for the 76ers and Heat, what to expect from James Harden, a prediction and more miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… – 12:10 PM Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Now on @njdotcom
NBA Playoffs 2022:
Doc Rivers has no regrets about leaving Joel Embiid in against the Raptors nj.com/sixers/2022/05… – 12:02 PM Justin Grasso @JGrasso_
Doc Rivers says there is no update on Joel Embiid today after another practice session #Sixers – 11:50 AM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
With 76ers’ Joel Embiid out, are the Heat about to give James Harden the Trae Young treatment? sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 11:37 AM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
The Sixers were in a bind with Joel Embiid. His injury makes their trajectory more unclear than ever inquirer.com/sixers/joel-em… via @phillyinquirer – 10:48 AM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
With his latest injury, Joel Embiid is becoming a tragic figure in Philly sports | writes Mike Sielski inquirer.com/sixers/joel-em… via @phillyinquirer – 10:46 AM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
76ers-Heat series preview — Heat know that even without Embiid, 76ers will be challenge (from @AP) apnews.com/article/6d0eb8… – 10:43 AM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Sixers coach Doc Rivers defends decision to have Joel Embiid in late during a blowout inquirer.com/sixers/76ers-s… via @phillyinquirer – 10:39 AM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Sixers prepare to play without injured Joel Embiid in second-round series against Miami Heat inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-… via @phillyinquirer – 10:38 AM Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
70/30 Heat with Embiid’s injury, 55/45 Heat if Embiid only had the thumb issue, 60/40 Sixers or Embiid was 100%.
65/35 Celtics (would be 50/50ish if Middleton was healthy
58/42 Suns
51/49 Warriors (I’m expecting a great series here) – 10:32 AM Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
The full series preview for Sixers-Heat is here. Embiid is the obvious X-factor, but without him it’s tough to find a compelling case to pick Philly (and I would have if Embiid was healthy) unless Harden finds an extra gear, which I think is an unfair ask
phillyvoice.com/sixers-vs-heat… – 10:30 AM Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
A Heat-76ers playoff primer: Important questions surrounding the series, what Joel Embiid’s absence means for the 76ers and Heat, what to expect from James Harden, a prediction and more miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… – 9:52 AM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
With 76ers’ Joel Embiid out, are the Heat about to give James Harden the Trae Young treatment? sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… Tyler Herro, “In the past series, we were able to defend an elite guard.” – 9:00 AM Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Now on @njdotcom
NBA Playoffs 2022:
Doc Rivers has no regrets about leaving Joel Embiid in against the Raptors nj.com/sixers/2022/05… – 8:35 AM Shandel Richardson @ShandelRich
Without Embiid, Sixers burden falls on James Harden for at least one game #miamiheat si.com/nba/heat/miami… – 8:18 AM Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers column: Can James Harden turn back the clock and become a prolific scorer again with Joel Embiid sidelined vs. the #Heat? https://t.co/4XBMoBhNAr #NBA #76ers pic.twitter.com/58T4M5rOwS – 8:05 AM Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA column: Doc Rivers and the #Sixers are going to have to be creative without Joel Embiid against #Heat: https://t.co/65mBa4SfZy #76ers pic.twitter.com/npgBIQCczg – 7:55 AM Jon Johnson @jonjohnsonwip
Gut feel: Will Joel Embiid play(at some point) in series vs Heat? – 7:24 AM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
‘Discussing the impact of Joel Embiid’s orbital bone fracture, concussion and what it means for the Philadelphia 76ers’ by Locked On 76ers – Daily Podcast On The Philadelphia Sixers megaphone.link/LKN6503449824 #NBAPlayoffs2022 – 6:47 AM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Discussing the impact of Joel Embiid’s orbital bone fracture, concussion… youtu.be/nNCmbFTxraw via @YouTube #NBA – 6:45 AM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
The Sixers were in a bind with Joel Embiid. His injury makes their trajectory more unclear than ever inquirer.com/sixers/joel-em… via @phillyinquirer – 11:23 PM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Sixers coach Doc Rivers defends decision to have Joel Embiid in late during a blowout inquirer.com/sixers/76ers-s… via @phillyinquirer – 11:20 PM Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA column: For the #Sixers to have a chance against #Heat without Joel Embiid, James Harden is going to have to really pick up the scoring slack: https://t.co/4XBMoBhNAr pic.twitter.com/lJVpGzH2nf – 10:30 PM Austin Krell @NBAKrell
New: In the latest episode of Inside The Green Room, Danny Green gave an account of the symptoms Joel Embiid exhibited in the immediate aftermath of Game 6:
sixerswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/30/six… – 9:18 PM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
‘Discussing the impact of Joel Embiid’s orbital bone fracture, concussion and what it means for the Philadelphia 76ers’ by Locked On 76ers – Daily Podcast On The Philadelphia Sixers megaphone.link/LKN6503449824 – 9:01 PM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Discussing the impact of Joel Embiid’s orbital bone fracture, concussion… youtu.be/nNCmbFTxraw via @YouTube – 8:31 PM Jason Dumas @JDumasReports
Hearing Jimmy Butler talk about Joel Embiid and his injury makes me sad that they still aren’t teammates. They should be. – 7:33 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Doc Rivers not second guessing leaving Embiid in blowout game when injury nba.nbcsports.com/2022/04/30/doc… – 7:16 PM Gina Mizell @ginamizell
“This has been a resilient group all year, so nothing has changed in that regard.”
The Sixers reconvened Saturday, and now prepare for life without Joel Embiid 👇🏼
inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-… – 7:11 PM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers defends decision to have Joel Embiid in late during a blowout inquirer.com/sixers/76ers-s… via @phillyinquirer – 7:01 PM Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers column: ‘Another reason why (the #76ers) got James (Harden) is to be able to pick up some of that slack’ with #NBA-leading scorer Joel Embiid sidelined: https://t.co/4XBMoBhNAr pic.twitter.com/UEiozbqdvt – 7:00 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Doc Rivers’ excuse that the game had just then gotten out of hand and that’s why he had Embiid in still doesn’t hold water. The Sixers took a 26-point lead with 8:31 left and never led by fewer than 24 the rest of the way. – 6:46 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
From earlier — Heat’s Jimmy Butler addresses knee pain, Embiid absence and his recent fine. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 5:57 PM Shandel Richardson @ShandelRich
Butler says Embiid injury is unfortunate #miamiheat si.com/nba/heat/miami… – 4:21 PM Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
‘There’s hope’: 76ers waiting to see if Embiid can come back
apnews.com/article/toront… – 4:21 PM Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
The Sixers have four options to use to fill the Joel Embiid void until he returns. From the sound of it, they may end up using all of them phillyvoice.com/joel-embiid-in… – 4:15 PM Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
Updated #Sixers story: Doc Rivers says there’s a chance Joel Embiid could play in series vs. #Heat, but there’s no way to know at this point: https://t.co/lYZsheSfTn #NBA pic.twitter.com/URw73qxPfm – 4:05 PM Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers column: The pressure is on James Harden to help make up for star Joel Embiid’s absence in the playoff series against the top-seeded #Heat: https://t.co/4XBMoBhNAr #76ers #NBA pic.twitter.com/4EYn45epmp – 3:55 PM Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Joel Embiid suffered the injury late in a blowout win over the Raptors. The question became why was he on the floor at that time? Doc Rivers defends his decision to leave him out there. #Sixers sixerswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/30/doc… via @SixersWire – 3:22 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat’s Jimmy Butler addresses knee pain, Embiid absence and his recent fine. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… – 3:00 PM Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
Doc Rivers was asked about Joel Embiid being in the game when he was injured in Game 6 after practice today. pic.twitter.com/expVSACVNl – 2:06 PM Jon Johnson @jonjohnsonwip
Doc Rivers claims the Sixers “made our/their run in the final minute” before Embiid injury. They led Toronto by a minimum of 24pts in final nine minutes of the game. – 1:53 PM Noah Levick @NoahLevick
Doc Rivers says Sixers will play “center by committee” w/o Joel Embiid, that they “may need all four” backup center options.
He expects Tobias Harris to spend time on Lowry, Butler, Adebayo throughout the series, sees Harris as possibly another five option vs. small lineups. – 1:49 PM Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers on why Joel Embiid was playing with 4 minutes left in Game 6 vs #Raptors: pic.twitter.com/QpC3SuAFCn – 1:40 PM Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
The #Sixers were in a bind with Joel Embiid. His injury makes their trajectory more unclear than ever. inquirer.com/sixers/joel-em… via @phillyinquirer – 1:34 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Heat’s Jimmy Butler addresses knee pain, Embiid absence and how his hips don’t lie. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… Of NBA sanction, “It’s Spo’s fault. He always says to celebrate everybody else’s success. Max goes on a 10-0 run, I celebrate, and I get fined.” – 1:16 PM Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Tobias Harris on the Joel Embiid injury: “Obviously, tough news to take…for us, it’s a next man mentality.” #Sixers – 1:11 PM Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
A few notes from Butler —
He says he’s confident his knee will hold up and he’ll be ready for Game 1. He said he feels bad for Embiid and would have liked the chance to play against him. He also said Embiid would have his vote for MVP. – 12:38 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Butler on Embiid, “I feel bad for my guy.” Says he hopes Embiid can get back for the series. – 12:33 PM

More on this storyline

Austin Krell: Rivers says there’s hope that Joel returns, but there’s not a ton of clarity yet. Says team will go center by committee. Mentions that DeAndre Jordan’s height had significance in one of the reg season games vs Miami. Team will go more Harden-centric with more spacing. -via Twitter @NBAKrell / April 30, 2022 NBA Central: Doc Rivers defends his decision to have Joel Embiid in late during a blowout “The other team had all their guys in” (🎥 @Tom Moore ) pic.twitter.com/Y2Cluo0eeJ -via Twitter @TheNBACentral / April 30, 2022 Noah Levick: Tobias Harris said Joel Embiid was upset about his injuries but is in “good spirits” overall. Harris said he expects the Sixers to feature more pick-and-rolls without Embiid, and that ball movement remains key. -via Twitter @NoahLevick / April 30, 2022