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Joel Embiid is currently sidelined due to appendicitis and underwent emergency surgery on April 9. His availability for the 2026 NBA Playoffs remains uncertain as the Celtics and 76ers face off in the first round.
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Joel Embiid
Will Joel Embiid Play in 2026 NBA Playoffs? Latest Injury Updates for Celtics vs. 76ers Series originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As the Celtics and 76ers prepare to add another chapter to their rivalry, one question is hanging over the first-round series: Will Joel Embiid be available for Philadelphia?
The former NBA MVP remains sidelined after he was diagnosed with appendicitis on April 9. He underwent emergency surgery in Houston before a road game against the Rockets, and he missed the final three games of the regular season as well as the 76ers' win over the Magic in the Play-In Tournament.
Here are the latest updates on Embiid's status.
Embiid is listed as out on the Sixers' official injury report (post appendectomy surgery recovery), so he will not play in Game 1 against the Celtics.
"I'm preparing for Sunday's game, and I know he's not playing in that one," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. "So, that's all. We're just, like, zeroed in on trying to see, can we go in there and get ready to battle and fight and execute as best we can?"
Joel Embiid is sidelined due to appendicitis and has undergone emergency surgery, making his status for the playoffs uncertain.
Joel Embiid underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis on April 9.
Joel Embiid missed the final three games of the regular season and the 76ers' win over the Magic in the Play-In Tournament.
The Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers are competing in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

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While Philadelphia hasn't released a full recovery timeline, a report from ESPN's Shams Charania suggested that Embiid may be sidelined for multiple games.
"He's very much in the recovery phase of this," Charania said. "Once you recover, then you have to have a separate rehab part of the process as well. So, this is a serious issue that Joel Embiid had a week ago. He's still trying to recover."
With Embiid out of the rotation, the 76ers will lean on the center duo of Andre Drummond and Adem Bona. In Philly's Play-In Tournament victory, Bona was part of the starting lineup, but he only played 16 minutes. Drummond made a huge impact off the bench, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 31 minutes.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 19 | Game 1: 76ers vs. Celtics | 1 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| April 21 | Game 2: 76ers vs. Celtics | 7 p.m. | Peacock |
| April 24 | Game 3: Celtics vs. 76ers | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| April 26 | Game 4: Celtics vs. 76ers | 7 p.m. | NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV |
| April 28 | Game 5*: 76ers vs. Celtics | TBD | TBD |
| April 30 | Game 6*: Celtics vs. 76ers | TBD | TBD |
| May 2 | Game 7*: 76ers vs. Celtics | TBD | TBD |
*If necessary