76ers HC Nick Nurse Provides Joel Embiid Update Ahead of Game 3 vs. Celtics
The series flipped on its head in Game 2, and suddenly, everything feels different in Philadelphia.
After getting blown out in the opener, the Philadelphia 76ers stormed into Boston and delivered a statement 111–97 win over the Boston Celtics, knotting the first-round series at 1–1.
Philly drilled 19 threes, got a breakout 30-point, 10-rebound night from rookie V.J. Edgecombe, and rode Tyrese Maxey's 29 points to seize momentum in a hostile environment.
The Sixers were heavy underdogs without Joel Embiid and still controlled long stretches of the game, answering every Boston push.
But now, the storyline has shifted again.
Head coach Nick Nurse provided a cautiously optimistic update Thursday on Embiid's status heading into a crucial Game 3 back in Philly.
"We’re, obviously, really hopeful, and I think he’s really hopeful. He wants to play, and we want him to play. I don’t know how close we are to that at this point, but I think there’s some progress being made,” Nurse said.
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Embiid's 2025–26 season has been disrupted by multiple issues, including a stress fracture, knee management, and ultimately the appendectomy that sidelined him entering the postseason.
Historically, Embiid’s health has been the swing factor in Philly's ceiling, having played in less than 40 games each of the past three seasons. Knee injuries, orbital fractures, ligament damage, you name it, he's battled through it.
Up until now, Embiid's absence following the appendectomy has cast a shadow over the entire series. He hasn't played since April 6 and entered the playoffs with what's effectively been an indefinite recovery window.
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Earlier reports indicated he was ramping up but not ready for Game 2. Nurse's latest comments don't guarantee a Game 3 return, but they reopen the door. And in a tightly contested series, that possibility alone forces Boston to prepare differently.
Boston entered the series as the favorite and still carries that edge, currently listed as 7.5-point road favorites for Game 3, but Game 2 exposed cracks, notably poor perimeter shooting (26% from three) and defensive breakdowns under pressure.
And if Embiid returns, even at 70–80%, the entire equation can shift quickly.
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 2:36 PM.