PHILADELPHIA _ Joel Embiid said before the 76ers practiced Friday that he doesn't know if he will be able to play when the Sixers host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday in the opener of their Eastern Conference playoff series because of constant pain in his left knee.
Embiid said that he has been able to play with the pain, but that recently it has become worse.
"Even within the pain, it is still possible (to play) but whatever I have been feeling the past couple of days has been different. It still hasn't changed," he said. "Everything is good on the scans but the pain level hasn't changed. It got worse."
Whether he plays, he says, will be up to him.
"It is my decision because I am the one feeling the pain and I know my body," said Embiid, who has missed 14 of the final 24 games. "They (the medical staff) are going to do whatever they can as far as getting me ready, but if my body doesn't respond based on the pain level, there is really nothing you can do."
The Sixers released this statement on Embiid, who they say has left-knee soreness:
"Since the game at Chicago on April 6, Joel has continued his treatment program including conditioning, strength training and physical therapy. He will be a partial participant in practice today. An initial status for Embiid's availability in Saturday's game vs. Brooklyn will be determined after practice today (by the 5 p.m. league reporting deadline)."
Even though the statement said that Embiid would be a partial participant, Brett Brown said that Embiid wouldn't practice.
Embiid says he wants to play but will be smart about it.
"Everybody who knows me knows I want to be on the floor and play through injuries and pain," he said. "But if I can't go, it means it is pretty painful."
