Injured Joel Embiid ‘doubtful’ for Game 1, says 76ers coach

CAMDEN. N.J.(AP) — Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers says NBA MVP finalistJoel Embiid is doubtful for Game 1 of the playoff series againstthe Boston Celtics with a sprained right knee.

Embiid wasexamined by doctors this week and has yet to practice ahead ofMonday’s Eastern Conference semifinals opener at Boston.

The Sixershave had the longest break of any NBA team after they swept theBrooklyn Nets last Saturday. Embiid was hurt in Game 3 and missedthe next game.

“If I was abetting man, I would probably say doubtful for at least Game 1, butwe’ll see,” Rivers said Saturday at the 76ers’ facility in NewJersey. “He has to get better. He did nothing (today). Just wasn’table to and obviously we were hopeful for today.”

The29-year-old Embiid, from Cameroon, averaged 33.1 points this seasonto win his second straight scoring title. He also averaged 10.2rebounds and tied a career high with 4.2 assists per game. Heplayed in 66 games, the second-highest total of his career.

Embiid missedtwo games in the second round last year and another in the firstround in 2021 with various injuries, on top of the two he missed tobegin the 2018 playoffs with an orbital fracture and another in2019, also with a knee problem.

Embiidaveraged 36.8 points and 11.8 rebounds in four games this seasonagainst the Celtics.