Joel Embiid injury update: Sixers star kept away from practice, to be evaluated 'in a day or so'

The Philadelphia 76ers are sweating over the fitness of MVP candidate Joel Embiid, who is crucial to their title hopes this season.

The 76ers won their playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets following four dominant games and became the first team this season to book a place in the semifinals. However, there is uncertainty surrounding Embiid's availability.

Embiid missed the final game of the Sixers' first-round sweep of the Nets with a right knee sprain. The injury was initially diagnosed as an LCL sprain, which typically requires more than a week of recovery time.

The start date of the next round depends on who advances from the Celtics-Hawks series. The Celtics currently hold a 3-2 lead in the series. Had they won Game 5, the Celtics-Sixers conference semifinals would have started on Saturday. A Hawks win meant the Sixers don't have to play until Monday.

Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said they were happy with the fact that the Celtics-Hawks series ended up getting extended, adding that Joel Embiid would be evaluated in a “day or two.”

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Joel Embiid doubtful for Game 1 of Eastern Conference semifinals

Joel Embiid sustained the injury in the third quarter of Game 3, and while he played through to the end, he was clearly limping. The Philadelphia 76ixers gave him plenty of time off to recover, but it looks like it might not be enough.

Doc Rivers was quick to dismiss any notion of Embiid’s season ending due to the injury.

Speaking to reporters, Rivers said the team wouldn't know more about Embiid's availability for a couple more days. He had previously said that Embiid's chances of being ready for the start of the next round were "probably 50% at best." This means that fans can be confident of a quick return even if he ends up missing Game 1 of the semis.