Embiid appeared to be suffering from an injury at the end of the fourth quarter in an involuntary elbow of Raptors striker Pascal Siakam and did not return for the rest of Thursday’s game. Experts evaluated Embiid on Friday and there is no indication that surgery will be needed, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. However, the 28-year-old will lose at least five days due to the concussion, adds Shelburne. The All-Star big man was already playing with a thumb injury and was hoping to delay a possible surgery until the off-season. Embiid, the MVP finalist this season, had a strong run in the first round against Toronto. He averaged 26.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in six appearances. Philadelphia is relatively thin in the center position. Second player Paul Reed will likely see extended minutes, while veterans DeAndre Jordan and Paul Millsap played together for a second during the first round. The 76ers’ Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Miami Heat starts on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET in South Beach.
