Joel Embiid is only ‘50% at best’ to be ready for Eastern semis start, 76ers coach Doc Rivers admits

Doc Rivers estimated Joel Embiid’s chances of being ready before the start of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at only “50 percent—at best” after the Sixers pulled off a win over the Nets without him.

Embiid was injured during the third quarter of Game 3—a Philly 102–97 victory—when he landed awkwardly while attempting to contest a shot by Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson.

And after an MRI of the center’s knee “didn’t turn out well,” according to Rivers, he and the rest of the Sixers organization will sweat over their star’s availability in the second round.

“I just don’t know,” Rivers said after the game when asked about Embiid’s prospects of being ready for Game 1 of the next round.

“I’d say, right now it’s probably the same percentage I said before the game… probably 50 percent at best.”

While Embiid’s injury is a concern for the East No. 3, he has at least a week to recover.

After the Hawks upset the Celtics at home in Game 3, their series with Boston will not end until at least Tuesday, with the earliest possible East semifinal start date set for April 29.

The Sixers will therefore be cheering from far to Atlanta to extend their series and give Embiid some extra rest.

The presumptive MVP has been unlucky with playoff injuries over the years.

He missed the first two games of the 2018 playoffs with a fractured eye socket, one game in 2019 with knee pain, one game in 2021 with a small later meniscus tear, and two games last year with a fractured eye socket and concussion.

And even if Embiid returns before the start of the next round, the big man may not be quite at full strength against the next opponent.

The Sixers await the winner of the Hawks-Celtics series, with Boston currently leading 2-1 leading into Sunday’s Game 4.