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The Philadelphia 76ers will be hoping to recover from a drubbing in Game 2 when they host the Boston Celtics Friday for Game 3 of their series in the 2023 NBA playoffs. The 76ers got the split they desired on the road, setting up the chance to go up 3-1 if they win both home games. Joel Embiid returned in Game 2 after sitting Game 1 with a knee injury. Here’s a look at his status for Game 3.
Joel Embiid injury updates
Update: Embiid, as expected, is going to play and start for the 76ers. He’ll get his MVP award before the game and that’ll provide an emotional boost for him and the Sixers, but we’ll see if that translates into a better showing for the big man in Game 3.
Embiid is officially listed as questionable, but this is just gamesmanship (a very poor attempt at it) from the 76ers. The big man is going to play after logging 27 minutes in Game 2. If the game was closer, Embiid and the other starters would’ve played more but he did get some additional rest due to the blowout. The league MVP will try to be more effective in this contest.
Paul Reed is the most impacted from a fantasy standpoint, while James Harden likely loses out on some shots. Tyrese Maxey has played well with Embiid in, while Tobias Harris should see his usual workload as well.