Sixers likely to be without Joel Embiid for game 3

76ers Raptors Basketball
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid receives attention from team trainers after taking an elbow to the head from Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam during the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

On Thursday evening NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Sixers center Joel Embiid has been listed as out for Game 3 on Friday night against the Miami Heat.

Soon after it was then reported by Kyle Neubeck that the team had a 5pm reporting deadline. He goes on to reference that Embiid is still in the process of being cleared and that being out for Game 3 is not a definite.

It seems there is a small chance Embiid plays Friday night, but whether he does or doesn’t the Sixers need to be ready to play better than in previous games. Game 3 will be in Philadelphia down at the Wells Fargo Center with Tip-Off coming at 7 pm.

The Sixers will need to put together a great game, start making their shots, and hope that Tyrese Maxey continues to be aggressive while having the home crowd behind them. If the team comes out and continues to not shoot well, defend, and rebound this series will be over sooner than later. The goal is to prolong this series as long as possible in hopes of a triumphant return of Joel Embiid either it being Game 4 or 5. 

Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP