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Tim Bontemps
multiple authors
philadelphia 76ers star center joel embiid Houston undergoes emergency surgery Thursday after being diagnosed with appendicitis just hours before the team was set to face off rockets In a crucial clash at the end of the regular season.
The team announced Embiid’s surgery just hours after he was added to the injury report before Thursday’s game as being ruled out due to a sudden illness — which the Sixers must win out as they fight to avoid the Eastern Conference play-in tournament next week.
It’s unclear when Embiid will be able to return to the court.
“It’s a tough blow,” coach Nick Nurse said. “I think the biggest thing right now is that Joel is coming out of surgery as best as he can and everything is going well. That’s where most of my thoughts are right now.”
The nurse said Embiid felt fine in practice on Wednesday but his condition changed overnight. He remained in surgery about 90 minutes before the start of Thursday’s game.
“I was told this morning, but they said he died at midnight – like 3 o’clock [a.m.]3:30 [a.m.] Or something – contacted them to say he wasn’t feeling well,” the nurse said. “And so I think that’s when this particular incident started.”
Nurse said the team learned of Embiid’s diagnosis during preparation for the game.
“They finally took him to the doctor and they got a scan and then decided they needed to have surgery right here in Houston,” the nurse said.
The 32-year-old Embiid is averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 38 games this season as he slowly begins to recapture his MVP-level form after a lost season a year ago in which he played just 19 ineffective games before being shut down due to ongoing problems with his left knee.
Philadelphia has had to deal with a series of absences from its star players this season paul george Just returned from a 25-game NBA suspension a few weeks ago.
Entering Thursday’s games, the 76ers (43-36) are one game back of sixth place Toronto Raptors There are three games remaining in the regular season as they try to avoid the postseason play-in tournament.
Sixers have to play a match after this on Friday Indiana and against sunday milwaukee –Teams focused strongly on improving their draft lottery positions.
It’s very likely that Philadelphia will ultimately end up in the play-in tournament, however, given Embiid’s uncertain status moving forward. Next week’s play-in games will be either Tuesday (for 7-8 games) or Wednesday (9-10 games) and then Friday (8-9 games).
Nurse said the responsibility is on him to keep the team excited for the postseason.
“We have to choose ourselves,” the nurse said. “I am the leader of the team, I have to pick people and they have to understand the situation and we have to be professional and we have to try to understand it in the best way we can.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
