Against the New York Knicks, Joel Embiid suffered an orbital fracture after a collision with Markelle Fultz, who recently returned during the 2017-18 NBA season. Head coach Brett Brown revealed the 24-year-old would undergo surgery once the swelling went down and there was no return timetable.
Since Brown's update, Embiid underwent surgery and could return early in the playoffs according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid underwent surgery to repair an orbital bone fracture around his left eye and could return early in the Eastern Conference playoffs, league sources said.
Based on Embiid's recovery process and doctors' evaluation, he could return as early as two weeks, according to Wojnarowski:
Embiid could return in as soon as two weeks, sources said, based upon his recovery process. Doctors will evaluate his ability to return, and the Sixers plan to only allow Embiid to return if he's fully healed.
While it appears everything has to go right for Embiid to return in two weeks, this is still good news for him and Philadelphia. After only playing 31 games in his first three seasons, the first-time All-Star has taken a major step by playing in 63 games so far, including some back-to-back situations.
As the Sixers are set to make their first playoff appearance in five years, Ben Simmons and company are trying to secure homecourt advantage in the first round without Embiid. With a favorable schedule in the team's final seven games, there is an opportunity to move up on the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third spot or the threat of losing homecourt advantage to the Indiana Pacers.
Depending on when Embiid ultimately returns, the Sixers are an up-and-coming team no one wants to face.
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