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Tim BontempsESPN
CAMDEN N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ersFriday morning announcement of the superstar center Joel EmbiidHe has passed the NBA's concussion protocol, and participated in the morning shootaround before Game 3 of Philadelphia's Eastern Conference semifinal. Miami HeatFriday night, moving him just a few steps closer to the court.
After being hit with an elbow in the head, Embiid suffered a right face fracture and concussion that caused him to miss the Miami 76ers' games. Toronto RaptorsForward Pascal SiakamPhiladelphia's first round series win in Philadelphia, Game 6, was won by Philadelphia. However, he is listed as out for Game 3 but the team indicated that his status could change again between now and game time.
“We are just preparing for the game,” 76ers guard Tyrese MaxeyAfter shootaround. “Hopefully he plays. It's great if he does play. We're only preparing if he doesn’t play. [if it's]Another game, one that we must win.
Embiid is now cleared to continue playing through the facial fracture. He will be required to wear a mask to watch tonight's game. Embiid had done this before. He missed three weeks of 2018 after colliding with a teammate. Markelle FultzConcussion, and a left-face fracture.
Philadelphia was without Embiid. He was named a finalist last month for the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award. The Sixers went 14-for-64 in Miami's 3-point range, and Miami's All Star center had no answers. Bam AdebayoHe averaged 23.5 points per game and 10.5 rebound on 71.4 percent shooting in the two games, which were both comfortably won by the Heat.
The Heat will continue to watch and wait to see what happens. Kyle LowryThe hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last four games will not prevent him from playing in Game 3. After suffering a hamstring injury in Game 3, the Philadelphia native and former Villanova star was listed as out for Games 1, 2 and 3. He was then upgraded to questionable on Thursday.
