The 76ers will need a healthy Joel Embiid to make some noise in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
For that reason, it was concerning to see the seven-time All-Star grabbing his knee in Philadelphia's second-to-last game of the regular season.
In the team's win over the Magic, Embiid appeared to tweak his left knee late in the first half, forcing him to exit the game and go to the locker room. He returned for the second half and put together another dominant performance, but the knee that gave him trouble was the same one he's had issues with throughout the season.
Having finished the season with the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference, the 76ers will now have two opportunities to advance to the playoffs, starting with a matchup with the Heat in the first round of the Play-In Tournament.
Will Embiid be available to play? Here's the latest on his status for Wednesday's Play-In Tournament game.
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Is Joel Embiid playing tonight?
The 76ers haven't released an injury report for Wednesday's game yet, so Embiid's status is unknown.
The expectation is that Embiid will be able to play, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps. Embiid didn't play in Philadelphia's season finale — the 76ers listed him out with left knee injury recovery — but it was said to be a precautionary measure.
Embiid appeared in 39 games this season, posting averages of 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 33.6 minutes while shooting 52.9 percent from the field.
The 76ers were 31-8 with Embiid compared to 16-27 without him.
If the 76ers win Wednesday's game, they will advance to face the Knicks in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. If they lose, they will face the loser of Bulls vs. Hawks for the No. 8 seed and an opportunity to play the Celtics in the first round.
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What channel is 76ers vs. Heat?
- Date: Wednesday, April 17
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live streaming: Sling TV
The 76ers and Heat will battle for the Eastern Conference's No. 7 seed Wednesday, April 17. The game will be broadcast on ESPN. Viewers can also stream the game on Sling TV.
Fans in the U.S. can watch the NBA Play-In Tournament and playoffs on Sling TV. Sling is the home for avid sports fans offering a range of sports channels so you can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.
What time is 76ers vs. Heat tonight?
- Date: Wednesday, April 17
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET | 4:00 p.m. PT
Wednesday's Play-In game between the 76ers and Heat is scheduled to tip off around 7 p.m. ET from the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia.
Play-In Tournament bracket
THE BRACKET IS SET 🍿 pic.twitter.com/guxcNaGEFf
— NBA (@NBA) April 14, 2024
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