The latest updates on injury return timelines for key NBA players like 76ers center Joel Embiid and Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell.
JOEL EMBIID
76ers fans in particular are itching to know when Joel Embiid will make his return to the NBA court.
He has resumed non-contact practice, his coach Nick Nurse and teammates have detailed.
“He looked good,” Embiid’s teammate Nicolas Batum said on Sunday afternoon. “He lifted. I don’t know when he’s coming back. I hope soon.”
Nurse has stressed that the franchise isn’t rushing Embiid’s return and will make sure he’s fully ready once he does.
“I’m looking forward to it and I’m pretty confident it will happen,” Nurse said of the big man’s return.
Meanwhile, Embiid’s teammate, Robert Covington, is trying to return from a long-term left knee injury and Nurse has detailed the latest.
“It’s his first time back around (practice),” Nurse said Sunday afternoon. “He has been on the court a few days. He did get out and participate in parts of practice today. It’s a good step forward. Hopefully, it’ll keep going forward.
“That’s kind of the thing with him. Each day you’ve got to check to see how it responds to some court time — extended court time. He had a pretty long session yesterday, and it looks like they’re going at it again a little bit longer. He’s tolerating everything so far, so hopefully he keeps going.”
DONOVAN MITCHELL
Donovan Mitchell pushed for a return from a bruised knee and in the two games he’s played since he definitely didn’t look up to it.
He also suffered a nasal fracture in the Cavs loss to the Knicks and he’s officially listed as out.
“I’m probably not playing next game, to be honest with you,” Mitchell told reporters, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “Just gotta take some time to rest and get it right. I thought I was ready. I’m not. It sucks. I want to be out there. But it’s clear as day. Even to myself. I can’t fool myself. Just get it right and be ready when that time comes.”
Since Mitchell first missed games with knee pain Cleveland has gone 4-5.
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