Is Joel Embiid playing tonight vs Raptors? Sixers release left ankle injury report

‘Is Joel Embiid playing tonight vs Raptors’ is the question every Sixers fan is asking, as the big man had hobbled off with an ankle injury against the Blazers. 

The Sixers are in a dog fight for 5th place in the Eastern Conference. A 6th place finish would setup a playoff series vs Celtics, who on current form could run through the Sixers. Thus, they desperately want to jump up to 5th in order to increase chances of a deep playoff run.

With Ben Simmons out for the season following a knee injury, the alarm bells in the Sixers camp had gone off when Embiid too walked off with a serious looking ankle condition. He then did not appear in the game vs Suns and the 76ers fans have been nervous all along.

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Ahead of tonight’s game vs Raptors, the Sixers have now released an injury report regarding Joel Embiid.

Is Joel Embiid playing tonight?

According to Shams Charania, Joel Embiid has recovered from his ankle injury and will play tonight vs Raptors.

Philadelphia star Joel Embiid (left ankle) will return to 76ers lineup tonight against Toronto, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 12, 2020

The Sixers big man had injured his ankle while trying to get a rebound and landing awkwardly on his ankle. At first. when he left the court, it seemed the injury was a brutal one. However, the Sixers medical staff have now cleared him to play and he wouldn’t be on a minutes restriction too.

The Sixers would need Embiid to come to the party tonight, if they are to beat the well-oiled Raptors. The Sixers need to win both their remaining seeding games in order to have any chance of jumping up to 5th seed.

Now, while there is no official confirmation on a minutes restriction for Embiid, the Sixers would want him to take things a little easy, as the playoffs are just round the corner.

Tobias Harris will have his hands full tonight, and will have to shoulder a lot of offensive responsibility in the absence of Ben Simmons and the presence of an ‘injury return Embiid’.