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Joel Embiid enters new phase of recovery process, but will miss Game 2 against Celtics
Embiid has begun the strength and conditioning part of his process, but will not play Tuesday night at TD Garden.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will not play in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Celtics, according to the team’s injury report.
Embiid remains out as he recovers from an appendectomy he underwent earlier this month. He missed Sunday’s Game 1 against Boston.
The Celtics won by 32 points as Philadelphia went without the former league MVP.
According to multiple reports, Embiid has entered a new phase of his recovery process.
ESPN’s Shams Charania said Embiid’s process has two parts: recovering from the surgery and doing the rehab work that will allow him to return to action.
Embiid reportedly began the strength and conditioning portion of the process on Monday.
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The 32-year-old center has been out since April 9th, when he underwent surgery in Houston. The 76ers played the Rockets that day, and Embiid was a late scratch from the lineup.
Nearly two weeks later, Philadelphia has a chance to tie the series with Boston without Embiid on Tuesday night. A Celtics win would put Boston up 2-0 with the series shifting back to Philadelphia on Friday.
Playing without Embiid is nothing new for the 76ers. The multi-time all-star has missed 44 out of 82 possible regular-season games this season, along with the postseason opener.
The Celtics won the rebounding battle with Embiid out in Game 1. Jayson Tatum grabbed 11 rebounds, more than Philadelphia big men Andre Drummond and Adem Bona had combined. Sam Hauser grabbed seven boards and Nikola Vucevic had six.
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Game 2 will be televised on NBC Sports and streamed on Peacock Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Games 3 and 4 will have 7 p.m. start times on Friday and Sunday, respectively, in Philadelphia.
If there is a Game 5, it will be next Tuesday night at TD Garden.
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