The Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers revealed on Saturday afternoon that star center Joel Embiid is a doubt for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to be played against the Boston Celtics on Monday night.
“There is no latest,” Rivers said of the sprained LCL the Embiid is dealing with in his right knee. “Obviously, the doctors looked at him, and he didn’t do anything today. I’ll say this, but if I was a betting man, I would probably say doubtful for at least Game 1. But we’ll see.”
Embiid suffered his injury during Game 3 of the Sixers’ first-round sweep of the Brooklyn Nets. When the media was allowed onto the court for Philadelphia’s practice last Saturday afternoon, Embiid was absent. He subsequently sat out of Game 4 against the Nets.
Should Embiid remain unavailable by the time of the 76ers’ trip to the TD Garden on Monday, the team is expected to use reserve Paul Reed in his place.
