* Tonight on TNT: Game 2, Sixers vs. Raptors (8 ET)
UPDATE (7:50 ET)
Reports out of Philadelphia indicate Joel Embiid is available to play in Game 2 vs. Toronto.
The Sixers say Joel Embiid is available to play Game 2.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 29, 2019
* * *
A bout of gastroenteritis kept Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid from participating in the team’s shootaround this morning. He is probable for Game 2 of the Sixers’ Eastern Conference semifinal series with Toronto, which the Raptors lead 1-0.
However, Embiid’s illness is not expected to sideline him tonight.
Embiid has stomach flu and was not at Sixers shootaroond this AM … is listed as probable for Game 2.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) April 29, 2019
#Sixers center @JoelEmbiid is listed as probable with gastroenteritis. He is back at the team hotel and will not participate in today’s shootaround.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) April 29, 2019
Joel Embiid (gastroenteritis) is not at shootaround this morning but is expected to play tonight. Sixers are calling him probable.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) April 29, 2019
In Game 1 of the series, Embiid scored 16 points but missed nine of his 13 shots in the first half and went 5-for-18 overall. Toronto’s tandem of Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka took on the lion’s share of guarding Embiid and clearly caused him some problems.
Per NBA.com/Stats, Gasol guarded Embiid on 29 possessions (or 47.5 percent of the time) in Game 1, limiting him to three points on 1-for-8 shooting. Embiid fared better when Ibaka guarded him (26 possessions, 42.6 percent of the time), logging 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting.
The Raptors won Game 1, 108-95, as Kawhi Leonard scored 45 points to lead Toronto to the win. JJ Redick scored 17 points in the loss for Philadelphia.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
