CAMDEN, NJ — The Philadelphia 76ers held a Black Friday practice before their two-game road trip to Detroit and Charlotte. Just before Sixers head coach Nick Nurse addressed the media, the team announced an injury update.
According to the Sixers, Joel Embiid (left knee injury management/personal reasons) is out for tomorrow’s game at Detroit.
Joel Embiid (left knee injury management/personal reasons) and Kyle Lowry (right hip strain) are out for tomorrow’s game in Detroit. The personal reasons are, of course, not disclosed, but regarding Embiid’s knee, Nick Nurse did have a comment, which was a pleasant change.
“His swelling has gone down a bit,” Nurse said. “I think it’s under control pretty good. Still some soreness there. [That’s] about all I can say.”
It’s not much, but something is more than has often been given in terms of Joel Embiid updates. The question remains: what caused the swelling to go down? Was it treatment, a lack of activity, or diet changes? There are frankly untold possibilities, each varying in signaling how controllable this situation may be moving forward for Embiid and the Sixers, but that will only be discussed between those parties and the medical team.
It was a different story, however, for the other two injured Sixers.
Wing Caleb Martin, who had suffered a back injury against the Los Angeles Clippers, which caused him to miss Wednesday’s game against the Houston Rockets, was a partial participant in practice Friday afternoon.
Speaking with the media following his head coach and teammate Kelly Oubre, Martin dove deeper into his recovery and potential availability for Saturday’s game.
“[I’m] feeling better for sure. Attacking every day, wanting to come back as soon as possible. I mean, just some stuff, trying to get worked out and feel as good as possible, to where things don’t linger or carry over. So, it’s been good. Today was a good day. Got to move around and get it some action. So it was [a] good day.”
Of course, with Martin, the injury concerns—by the perception of many watching him this season—may not be limited to his back. Martin has alluded to a situation that has led to a bit of an unusual shooting motion this season, and today, he gave further comment when asked about the tape up that same arm that he was sporting Sunday night against the Clippers.
The constant in every occasion he has discussed the…situation, Martin has never once called it an injury, never claimed to be hurt, and has, on each occasion, gone out of his way to express that he is not the type of guy to make excuses for lacking performance.
“I’m good. Everybody’s got something. I’m not really a guy of excuses. I mean, some things aren’t excuses. That’s just what they are. But I’ll deal with the things I got to deal with and let whoever say whatever they got to say about it. But everybody’s going through something, so those are things I got to get taken care of. And I know, once I do, I’ll be a better version than y’all [have] seen me. So I’ll get there. I just have to get through what I gotta get through right now.”
Martin was also asked directly if he would play on Saturday. According to Martin, if he can go, he will.
“Yeah, the plan is always to try to play. Obviously, I gotta take it day by day. Like I said today, I had a good day I feel like. Definitely feeling better, I’m trying to get myself back to that point. So I take it day by day. I know many times people have suggested me not to play and then I do. I take it day by day right now, so, it’ll be up in the air, but I’m gonna try to, if I can go, I’m gonna go.”
A more concrete designation for Martin will come tomorrow between the afternoon and evening.
Finally, as for Paul George, the Sixers star was a full participant in practice, giving hope that he may return on the early side of his predicted return, which was described as “within the next week” at Tuesday’s practice.
Nick Nurse once again gave a short but encouraging response when discussing George’s return.
“Good, he was a full participant. We did do a good amount of contact and playing as well, so it was good to see, but he looked pretty good out there.”
Again, it’s not much, but for a fanbase starving for positive news, it’s better than what they’ve been fed so often this season. George playing tomorrow against the Pistons would help many renew their belief in the team.
