Will Joel Embiid Play in 2026 NBA Playoffs? Latest Injury Updates for Celtics vs. 76ers Series originally appeared on NESN.
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As the Celtics and 76ers prepare to add another chapter to their rivalry, one question is hanging over the first-round series: Will Joel Embiid be available for Philadelphia?
The former NBA MVP remains sidelined after he was diagnosed with appendicitis on April 9. He underwent emergency surgery in Houston before a road game against the Rockets, and he missed the final three games of the regular season as well as the 76ers’ win over the Magic in the Play-In Tournament.
Here are the latest updates on Embiid’s status.
Will Joel Embiid play vs. Celtics in 2026 NBA Playoffs?
Embiid is listed as out on the Sixers’ official injury report (post appendectomy surgery recovery), so he will not play in Game 1 against the Celtics.
“I’m preparing for Sunday’s game, and I know he’s not playing in that one,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. “So, that’s all. We’re just, like, zeroed in on trying to see, can we go in there and get ready to battle and fight and execute as best we can?”
While Philadelphia hasn’t released a full recovery timeline, a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania suggested that Embiid may be sidelined for multiple games.
“He’s very much in the recovery phase of this,” Charania said. “Once you recover, then you have to have a separate rehab part of the process as well. So, this is a serious issue that Joel Embiid had a week ago. He’s still trying to recover.”
Shams:
“Sixers are preparing for battle against the Celtics without Joel Embiid at least to start the series” pic.twitter.com/sdeTQ3Jskk
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) April 16, 2026
With Embiid out of the rotation, the 76ers will lean on the center duo of Andre Drummond and Adem Bona. In Philly’s Play-In Tournament victory, Bona was part of the starting lineup, but he only played 16 minutes. Drummond made a huge impact off the bench, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 31 minutes.
Joel Embiid stats
2025-26 regular season stats (38 games)
- 26.9 points per game
- 7.7 rebounds per game
- 3.9 assists per game
- 1.2 blocks per game
- 2.9 turnovers per game
- 31.6 minutes per game
- 48.9 percent shooting
- 33.3 percent 3-point shooting
- 85.4 percent free throw shooting
Playoff career stats (59 games)
- 24.9 points per game
- 10.9 rebounds per game
- 3.1 assists per game
- 1.7 blocks per game
- 3.7 turnovers per game
- 35.3 minutes per game
- 45.9 percent shooting
- 28.9 percent 3-point shooting
- 82.8 percent free throw shooting
Celtics vs. 76ers schedule
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 19 | Game 1: 76ers vs. Celtics | 1 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| April 21 | Game 2: 76ers vs. Celtics | 7 p.m. | Peacock |
| April 24 | Game 3: Celtics vs. 76ers | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| April 26 | Game 4: Celtics vs. 76ers | 7 p.m. | NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV |
| April 28 | Game 5*: 76ers vs. Celtics | TBD | TBD |
| April 30 | Game 6*: Celtics vs. 76ers | TBD | TBD |
| May 2 | Game 7*: 76ers vs. Celtics | TBD | TBD |
*If necessary
