Sixers’ Joel Embiid likely back in regular season, Nick Nurse says

PHILADELPHIA — Sixers coach Nick Nurse expressed optimism that reigning MVP Joel Embiid can be back on the courtroom earlier than the top of the regular season.

“I think there’s a very good likelihood that he will return before the play-in, playoff,” Nurse mentioned earlier than the Sixers’ sport Wednesday evening in opposition to the LA Clippers.

Embiid hasn’t performed since Jan. 30, when Golden State Warriors ahead Jonathan Kuminga inadvertently fell on his leg in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Warriors in San Francisco.

Since then, the 76ers have gone 10-16, the Tenth-best document in the Eastern Conference over that span, and have fallen into the play-in match combine in the Eastern Conference standings.

Things would change in a rush if Embiid, who was main the league in scoring at 35.3 factors per sport earlier than getting harm, is ready to return someday over the following 10 video games.

Embiid is seven weeks faraway from having surgical procedure on the lateral meniscus in his left knee. While Nurse reiterated there’s “no timetable” for his return, he did say that Embiid continues to do on-court work.

“I haven’t met with him,” Nurse mentioned. “I have talked with him, FaceTimed with him a couple times. He’s on the court, as you guys know, and we still don’t have a timeline for his return.”

Nurse continued: “I would imagine he’s getting better each day. It’s just trying to get him strong and confident and in shape and ramped up and all those wonderful words.”

Nurse added that he would offer an replace when Embiid progresses to contact observe or different steps earlier than his potential return to the courtroom.

Before Wednesday evening’s motion, ESPN’s Basketball Power Index projected Philadelphia to complete eighth in the Eastern Conference standings with 44 wins, one behind the Miami Heat in seventh and two behind the Indiana Pacers in sixth. The Sixers play the Heat subsequent week.

Philadelphia is 26-8 this season when Embiid performs and 13-25 when he does not.