The 76ers will begin their Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series against the Heat on Monday without all-star center Joel Embiid.
Embiid is listed as out with a right orbital fracture and mild concussion he suffered in the series-clinching 132-97 Game 6 victory over the Raptors on Thursday night. The Sixers gave no timetable for his return and said “further updates will be provided as appropriate.”
The injury occurred when Embiid took an elbow from fellow Cameroonian Pascal Siakam of Toronto on a drive with four minutes remaining and the Sixers ahead by 29 points. Embiid was assessed a foul on the play.
Embiid had 33 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots during Game 6 in Toronto. A finalist for league MVP, Embiid led the NBA in scoring with a 30.6 average in the regular season, making him the first center to do so since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000.
Backup center is not a strong position for the Sixers. Second-year pro Paul Reed backed Embiid up against the Raptors. Veterans DeAndre Jordan and Paul Millsap are also available. Rookie Charles Bassey is injured.
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Embiid was already playing with a torn ligament in his right thumb that occurred in Game 3.
The top-seeded Heat will host Games 1 and 2 on Monday night and Wednesday night (both at 7:30) before the best-of-seven series shifts to Philadelphia on Friday night (7) for Game 3 and Game 4 on Sunday night (8).
