Joel Embiid Will Wear Brace When He Returns

Joel Embiid Injury Update

A day after winning the 2022-23 NBA MVP Award, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is reportedly on track to return to the court for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Boston against the Celtics.

However, the Pro Basketball Docs are not optimistic about his chances to play effectively in his first game back since suffering a right knee sprain on April 20. He carries a SIC score of 60 for Game 2, indicating he will have limited mobility and likely be limited to short stints of playing time.

Embiid reportedly received a PRP injection last week in his injured right knee. PRP injections typically require at least two weeks to take effect, meaning he will not begin to see the benefits of the injection until Game 5 at the earliest.

Embiid’s skills coach, Drew Hanlen, shared a post congratulating the big man on his first MVP trophy, but also revealed that Embiid has been practicing with a brace on his right knee.

The 29-year-old wearing a brace is not a surprise and is something our panel of doctors has termed a necessity based on video of his original injury.

Even two weeks after his Game 3 injury, Embiid has instability in his right knee and needs the brace to ensure no further damage is done.

By video, he suffered an ACL sprain along with his LCL sprain, leading to his lengthy recovery. LCL sprains typically occur along with damage to the ACL, and turning a minor tear into a bigger tear would be the worst-case scenario for the Sixers and their playoff hopes.

While Philly was able to capture Game 1 without Embiid, the 76ers will need their MVP to stand a chance in the series.

76ers vs. Celtics Game 2 Odds

Boston is favored by 8 points at home in Game 2 and the over/under is 217, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Ahead of Game 2, the 76ers are +126 to win the series and the Celtics are -148.

Boston has the best odds to win the NBA Finals at +220, while Philadelphia is +470.

Sign up here for our FREE weekly newsletter and you'll get the best NFL, CFB, NBA and MLB injury insights from our Pro Sports Doctors plus Free Picks delivered straight to your inbox to give you an edge in betting and fantasy! Right now you'll also get one FREE month of SIC Picks - our best injury-based picks - valued at up to $200. Details sent instantly upon providing email.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.