Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid underwent an appendectomy in Houston for appendicitis, making his return for the play-in tournament or first round of the playoffs highly unlikely and delivering a severe blow to the team's postseason aspirations.
Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid had an emergency appendectomy in Houston on Thursday after being diagnosed with appendicitis overnight. Coach Nick Nurse confirmed the surgery, calling it a "tough blow," and indicated that Embiid's return for the play-in tournament or the first round of the playoffs is highly improbable. This news comes as the 76ers, currently eighth in the Eastern Conference, were already contending with Embiid's limited availability, having played only 38 games this season due to knee injuries. In his absence, the team plans to rely on Adem Bona and Andre Drummond. Embiid, 32, is averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds this season. He had recently expressed frustration over being held out of games by team management. Coach Nurse emphasized the need for the team to remain professional and resilient as they approach the postseason without their MVP-caliber player.
