Less than an hour away from tipoff at Barclays Center, the status of Joel Embiid remains unknown. Coach Brett Brown said during pre-game media availability that the Philadelphia 76ers superstar big man is a game-time decision for Game 3 of his team's first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets.
#Sixers coach Brett Brown on Joel Embiid’s status for Game 3: pic.twitter.com/qmkdgJGGUG
— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) April 18, 2019
Embiid was also a game-time decision for the first two contests of this series. He missed five of the last seven games of the regular season due to nagging soreness in his left knee, a malady that kept him out eight straight games in late February and early March. Embiid, sidelined for the first two seasons of his career due to injury, suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee in February of his rookie season, an injury that eventually required arthroscopic surgery.
An All-Star starter for the second consecutive time in 2018-19, Joel Embiid put together the finest season of his young career. He averaged 27.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.9 blocks in 33.7 minutes per game, all personal bests, while also serving as Philadelphia's defensive bellwether. Embiid finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, and is a contender for the award again this time around.
Obviously, his availability is of utmost importance for the 76ers, who were embarrassed by the Nets in the postseason opener before righting the ship in Game 2. Embiid proved instrumental to Philadelphia's struggles and successes, shooting just 5-of-15 in Game 1 before pouring in 23 points during just 21 minutes of play in Game 2, a blowout win for the Sixers.
Tipoff at Barclays Center is set for 8:00 p.m. EST.
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