On April 27 (Beijing time), with the Philadelphia 76ers trailing 1–2 in the series, star center Joel Embiid finally made his return. After undergoing appendix surgery, Embiid missed the first three games and came back in Game 4, marking his playoff debut this season after a 20-day absence.
Embiid has struggled with injuries throughout the season, playing just 38 regular-season games and missing 44. He also sat out the end of the regular season and the play-in tournament. Despite that, teammates like Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Edgecombe helped carry the team into the playoffs.
In the first three games, the 76ers fell behind 1–2, with their only win fueled by a standout 30+10 performance from Edgecombe. Embiid’s return now adds a crucial boost.
His last appearance was on April 7 against the San Antonio Spurs. The key question now: can Embiid lead the team to level the series against the Boston Celtics, or will they fall further behind 1–3?
