Joel Embiid working out on court with 76ers as return timetable grows clearer
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Joel Embiid is closing in on a return.
The 76ers star and reigning NBA MVP has been out with a torn meniscus and hasn’t played since Jan. 30.
He’s been limited to just 34 appearances on the season but is nearing a comeback in time to potentially join the 76ers for the postseason in April.
A video was posted of Embiid practicing with the team in Toronto in a trip north to play the Raptors on Sunday.
NBC Philadelphia reported that the All-Star can practice with contact, targeting a return before the end of the regular season, which concludes April 14.
Embiid has averaged 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per contest this season and earned a seventh consecutive All-Star nod.
The 76ers were the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference entering Sunday night’s games and are facing the likelihood of competing in the play-in tournament for one of the final two playoff spots.
With Miami at No. 7, the 76ers and Heat would face each other if the standings remained as is through the end of the season.
Landing the No. 8 seed would position Philadelphia for a first-round series with the Celtics, who have already clinched the top seed and eliminated the 76ers in seven games in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals despite trailing 3-2 entering Game 6.
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