May 06, (THEWILL) – After sustaining a concussion and a fractured orbital bone, Philadelphia 76ers star, Joel Embiid, is expected to miss his third straight game on Friday.
Although Embiid passed the concussion protocol and took part in Friday’s shootaround, he is still out for Game 3 of the Sixers’ second-round playoff series against the Miami Heat.
Since suffering an orbital fracture and mild concussion in Game 6 of Philadelphia’s first-round series against the Toronto Raptors eight days ago, Embiid has been out of the team selection. The Sixers, who are down 2-0 in their series with the Heat, were dealt a harsh blow as a result.
However, in Embiid’s absence, DeAndre Jordan, Georges Niang, and Paul Reed have gotten more playing time, even though the club has clearly struggled to replicate his offensive and defensive success.
In six games versus Toronto, Embiid, an MVP candidate, maintained his stellar season, averaging 26.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
The 76ers might be able to turn things around if Embiid returns, but losing to Miami on Friday and falling behind 3-0 in the series would be a hole too deep to climb out of regardless of Embiid’s availability.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
