It’s not a huge surprise, but the confirmation still carries weight as the Boston Celtics prepare to open their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Star center Joel Embiid will not be available for Game 1 on Sunday after undergoing an emergency appendectomy just over a week ago.
Recovery timelines for such a procedure typically span weeks rather than days, making a quick return challenging. While the NBA’s extended postseason format theoretically offers Embiid a window—if he can accelerate beyond the standard four-week recovery—the odds remain slim for an immediate impact against a heavily favored Celtics squad. Game 6 of the series, should it reach that point, is scheduled for April 30.
On Friday, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse delivered the official word to reporters, ruling Embiid out for Sunday’s matchup at TD Garden without providing a firm timetable for his potential return.
“You know what? I’m preparing for Sunday’s game, and I know he’s not playing in that one,” 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? And then we’ll start figuring—anything that changes, you know, the series becomes a series. Anything that changes starts probably right in the middle of that game, and then we take it from there.”
Embiid’s absence adds another layer to a matchup already laced with history. The big man is 0-3 in playoff series against the Celtics across his career, with Philadelphia posting a combined 3-12 record in those postseason encounters.
Caution Remains in Boston Despite the Missing Star
Even without Embiid for the opener, the Celtics are approaching the series with measured respect. Philadelphia finished the regular season at 45-37, a record that understates the team’s talent due to significant injury and availability issues. Paul George missed 25 games due to suspension, while Embiid (38 games) and Kelly Oubre (50 games) battled health concerns.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla highlighted the depth and growth Philadelphia has shown in spite of those setbacks.
“We’ve been seeing Paul George at his best, (Tyrese) Maxey at his best,” Mazzulla said Friday. “With those guys out throughout the season, they’ve had their role players have been able to develop into big-time roles, with the way (Kelly) Oubre playing, (Andre) Drummond’s been playing, (Adem) Bona has gotten better and better. Grimes off the bench (as well). So, I think they’re a very, very well-balanced team. I think they’re playing some of their best basketball as they get healthier and healthier.”
Mazzulla and the Celtics recognize that a healthy—or even partially healthy—76ers roster presents a formidable test, especially with Tyrese Maxey leading the charge alongside George and a cast of contributors who have stepped up in key moments.
The series opens with two games at TD Garden: Game 1 on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET and Game 2 on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. From there, the schedule shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4, with the potential for the series to stretch deep into late April or early May.
For the Sixers, the immediate focus is survival and execution without their franchise centerpiece. For the Celtics, it’s about handling business efficiently while remaining vigilant against a dangerous, well-coached opponent that has shown resilience all season.
Embiid’s eventual return, if it materializes, could shift the dynamic later in the series. Until then, Philadelphia will lean on its depth and collective fight, while Boston prepares to face a Sixers team that, even shorthanded, refuses to go quietly.