The Philadelphia 76ers are on a free fall, having lost all of their last five games, a stretch that coincides exactly with Sixers big man Joel Embiid's absence. Embiid has been sidelined for the fifth game in a row during the Sixers' 120-85 road loss to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday after getting entering the COVID-19 health and safety protocols, but a return to action by the Cameroonian center is apparently nearing.
Via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (h/t Hoops Hype):
I’m hearing, it’s fluid. The earliest he can return is Thursday (Nov. 18). I’m hearing it could be a little later than that because he was symptomatic when he contracted Covid-19. Not only does he have to get the two negative tests and quarantine, Joel is one of these guys that when he takes time off, he’s a big guy and easily gets out of shape. He hasn’t been doing anything basketball-wise.
A Nov. 18 return for Embiid means that the Sixers will have their own unicorn ready to face the Denver Nuggets' own unicorn in the form of Nikola Jokic on the road Thursday. However, it's still possible that Embiid will take a little more time beyond that date to make his first appearance back.
Even once he comes back and is cleared, there’s probably going to be a return to play process taking place… He could return Thursday (Nov. 18), but I think it’s going to be a couple of days after that, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was next week or once they get back from this road trip because they’re playing at high altitude.
The Sixers are in dire need of a shot in the arm that Embiid can certainly deliver for them. During their current losing streak, the Sixers have averaged just 102.4 points on 40.8 percent shooting from the field and have allowed 114.8 points per game — third-highest among all teams during that stretch.
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