Joel Embiid takes major step towards return for Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid takes major step towards return for Philadelphia 76ers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia 76ers were without star center Joel Embiid for the first two games of their first-round series with the rival Boston Celtics, and it remains to be seen when the star center will be able to return to game action after undergoing an emergency appendectomy two weeks ago.

But, the former MVP took a major step towards a return for Philadelphia ahead of Game 3 on Friday night.

Joel Embiid participated in parts of practice for 76ers

On Thursday, Embiid participated in parts of Sixers practice, which represents the first time that he has done so since surgery. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said that the practice was a light one, but the fact that Embiid was able to participate at all is encouraging.

Embiid is almost assuredly be ruled out of Game 3 on Friday night, and it also seems unlikely that he would be cleared to play by Game 4 on Sunday.

Game 5 of the series is set for Tuesday. So perhaps Embiid would be able to play in that game if he continues to trend in the right direction.

Despite the lack of a concrete return timeline, Nurse remains hopeful that Embiid will be able to return at some point during the series against Boston.

"We're, obviously, really hopeful, and I think he's really hopeful," Nurse finished. "He wants to play, and we want him to play. I don't know how close we are to that at this point, but I think there's some progress being made. Let's hope it keeps that way. Keeps going that way."