Joel Embiid made his return to the court docket Sunday night time lower than a month after he underwent an emergency appendectomy.
That didn’t gradual the Boston Celtics down one bit.
The Celtics cruised to a dominant 128-96 win over Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of their opening-round playoff sequence. That gave the Celtics a 3-1 lead in the sequence and put them a win away from making it into the following spherical.
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Embiid underwent surgical procedure in Houston on April 9 after he was recognized with appendicitis, one thing that may usually take up to six weeks to recuperate from. That knocked Embiid out for the remainder of the common season and the beginning of the playoffs.
Embiid had been engaged on his comeback throughout the playoffs and began a strength and conditioning program last week. He was listed as “doubtful” forward of the 76ers’ 108-100 loss to the Celtics in Game 3 on Friday and didn’t play.
The group introduced lower than an hour earlier than Game 4 was scheduled to tip off at Xfinity Mobile Arena that Embiid was obtainable and in the beginning lineup. The former league MVP performed with a special wrap around his midsection to shield the affected space.
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Embiid scored the primary eight factors of the night time for the 76ers, together with a two-handed dunk on a quick break. He had 10 in the primary interval after going 3-of-5 from the sector.
But Embiid’s scorching begin didn’t do a lot to deter the Celtics. Boston ended the opening interval on an 11-2 tear, capped by a one-legged buzzer-beater from Payton Pritchard, to seize a 16-point lead. Pritchard had 13 factors in the primary 12 minutes.
Embiid didn’t make a area objective in the second quarter, nevertheless, and Boston pushed its lead to 18 by halftime. From there, the Celtics by no means relinquished management of the sport. They cruised in the second half to the 32-point win.
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Pritchard completed with 32 factors off the bench with six 3-pointers for the Celtics. Jayson Tatum had 30 factors, 11 assists and seven rebounds. Boston made 24 3-pointers in contrast to 9 for Philadelphia.
Embiid led Philadelphia with 26 factors and 10 rebounds. He went 9-of-21 from the sector and 1-of-6 from past the arc. Tyrese Maxey added 22 factors, and Paul George completed with 16 factors.
Embiid averaged 26.9 factors and seven.7 rebounds in 38 video games in the common season for the 76ers. It marked his third straight season in which he’s appeared in fewer than 40 contests due to accidents. Before his appendicitis, Embiid additionally handled an oblique strain, a sore right knee and shin issue and a right knee injury. Embiid performed in simply 19 video games last season with lingering left knee issues.
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While Embiid must be good to go for Game 5 on Tuesday night time in Boston, it might not make a lot of a distinction. The Celtics are rolling, and look each little bit of a group that’s able to making a deep postseason run this spring. Based on how issues have gone thus far, it’s going to take a large effort from Embiid and the remainder of the 76ers to lengthen the sequence and produce it again to Philadelphia.
