76ers star Joel Embiid discharged after appendectomy, timeline for return still unclear

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been discharged from a Houston hospital following a successful appendectomy and will return to Philadelphia, the team announced Friday.

“Embiid’s surgical recovery will be managed by team physicians in consultation with his surgeon. A timeline for return to basketball activities has not yet been determined,” the team said in a statement.

Embiid reported feeling ill earlier Thursday, per league sources, and the Sixers ruled him out for the game against the Houston Rockets.

The 76ers lost 113-102 to the Rockets, the second of the team’s three-game trip and the first game of a back-to-back. Philadelphia plays the Indiana Pacers on Friday and then returns home to play the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday in the regular-season finale.

With two games remaining, the 76ers will have to make their playoff push without their star big man. Philadelphia is 43-37 and in eighth place in the East. While the team is guaranteed to play at least one game after the regular season, it could also still move into the top six and avoid the Play-In Tournament altogether.

Impact of Embiid’s absence

Embiid will likely be away from physical activity for 10 to 14 days. His timeline to return to basketball could be longer than that. Therefore, unless the 76ers are still playing in three weeks to a month, there is a possibility Embiid’s season has come to an end.

Let’s say all goes well and he’s back in two weeks. Even with the loss to the Rockets, if the 76ers win their remaining two games, they can still avoid the Play-In Tournament. However, the loss against Houston goes a long way toward locking the Sixers into a Play-In game. That means Philadelphia would have to qualify for the playoffs without Embiid, as the Play-In begins next week.

Either way, this is a dramatic blow for the 76ers.

Andre Drummond and Adem Bona will fill in at center for as long as Embiid is out. Tyrese Maxey and Paul George will have a lot of offensive responsibility. Winning against a Rockets team fighting for home-court advantage will be an uphill climb, but the Sixers have won important games this season with a short-handed roster.