Joel Embiid missed the 76ers’ morning shootaround with a migraine, and will still be listed as questionable for Tuesday night’s do-or-die Game 5 in the Garden against the Knicks with a knee injury.
While the questionable listing on the injury report has become expected — the 76ers regularly play fast and loose with their injury reporting on Embiid, and have been fined multiple times by the NBA this season for doing so — having Embiid at anything less than 100 percent is a problem.
Embiid has been dealing with Bell’s palsy since before Philadelphia’s Play-In victory over the Heat.
Embiid said migraines were one of the first symptoms of his Bell’s palsy diagnosis following Thursday’s 125-114 Game 3 win over the Knicks.
The Knicks lead the first-round series 3-1 going into Tuesday’s 7 pm tipoff, with the Sixers facing an early exit.
To extend this series and stave off elimination, the 76ers are going to have to find ways to be productive with Embiid off the floor. But they’ll also need him to dominate when he’s on it.
Embiid missed two months due to left knee surgery.
Since returning, the star center has been listed as questionable for every game.
And while Embiid hasn’t missed any time during the playoffs — averaging 35 points in a playoff career-high 40 minutes in this series — the migraine adds another layer of concern to a 76ers team with a host of concerns.
Kelly Oubre Jr. also missed shootaround, under the weather for the 76ers. He’ll be listed as probable.
Bell’s palsy is a neurological disorder that causes paralysis or weakness on one side of the face, per the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.