The reigning NBA MVP is almost back.
Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid is close to returning and is expected to play this week, multiple reports indicated Monday morning.
Embiid, 30, has been out since Jan. 30 with a left meniscus injury. The 76ers play the Thunder on Tuesday and Embiid’s status for that game should be known later Monday.
The 7-footer’s return will produce a major shake-up in the bottom half of the NBA playoff standings in the Eastern Conference.
Entering Monday, Philadelphia was eighth in the East, two games behind the sixth-seeded Indiana Pacers, a game and a half behind the Miami Heat for the No. 7 seed and four games ahead of the Chicago Bulls, who are ninths. .
The seeds No. 7 through 10 participate in the Play-In tournament to determine the final two playoff spots in each conference.
When Embiid was injured, the 76ers were 29-17 and in fifth place in the East.
With Embiid sidelined, Philadelphia went 11-18 and slipped into a Play-In spot.
The 76ers have seven games remaining and they only need to make up two games to be the sixth seed in the East and avoid the Play-In Tournament altogether.
The biggest game remaining on Philadelphia’s schedule is Thursday against the Heat.
This game in Miami could determine who hosts Game 7/8 of the Play-In tournament if Philly and Miami fail to secure the sixth seed.
The Sixers were four and a half games behind the Knicks for the No. 4 seed and five games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 3 seed, although there probably wasn’t enough time for Philadelphia secures home-court advantage for a first-round playoff series — and no guarantee they’d win enough games anyway.
Before his injury, Embiid was having another MVP-caliber season.
The seven-time All-Star averaged 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game.
The 76ers will need this level of play from Embiid again to get out of the Play-In field and into the playoffs.
New York Post
