CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers returned to work at practice on Thursday while sporting a 23-10 record and playing some terrific basketball.
Joel Embiid returned from a four-game absence due to a right ankle sprain for the Sixers last game, and he had 31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over the Chicago Bulls. The big fella only played in three quarters, which helps with the recovery from the ankle sprain.
Coach Nick Nurse updated his reigning MVP center’s health.
“He seems to be pretty good,” said Nurse. “I think we’re still working on just a little better conditioning aspect of it, but he was a full participant and very energetic today.”
The player participation policy is also a factor when discussing Embiid and the Sixers. The big fella can only miss 10 more games or he’ll be ineligible for the regular season awards, such as MVP.
The league’s policy states a player has to play in at least 65 games to be eligible for an award. Embiid has already missed seven games, so he cannot miss more than 10 of the final 49 games.
“I guess I’m thinking, geez, he just missed four for a really legitimate injury,” said Nurse of the policy. “It’s not like there’s been a whole lot of really thinking about when he’s gonna play, when he isn’t. Our stance, I think Simon’s (Rice) stance, I think Joel’s stance, is he’s gonna play. He’s gonna play.”
The policy is going to be a factor throughout the rest of the season. Embiid has to be delivered to the postseason healthy and ready for the playoffs. The Sixers will go as far as he takes them and Nurse knows it.
“It would be unfortunate if the legitimate injury thing caught up to him for some reason,” Nurse said. “We’re going to play him if he’s available, and I don’t think we’ll have to worry about the rule. It’s just gonna be legitimate injuries or not.”
The Sixers will play host to the New York Knicks on Friday.
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