PHILADELPHIA -- Joel Embiid sat out Sunday's regular-season finale for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Brooklyn Nets as a precautionary measure ahead of the playoffs, sources told ESPN.
The expectation is Embiid will be available for Philadelphia's next game, sources told ESPN.
That next game could be Tuesday if Philadelphia is on the road for the 7-8 play-in game, or Wednesday if the 76ers are hosting it. It also could be next weekend, if the 76ers move up into the fifth or sixth seed in the East and avoid the play-in game.
Embiid, who briefly left Friday's 125-113 win over the Orlando Magic after it appeared he was feeling pain in his left knee late in the first half, returned and played the rest of the game. Sixers coach Nick Nurse told reporters he took part in Saturday's practice.
The NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player, Embiid has averaged 30.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists in the five games he has played following a two-month layoff due to a procedure on his left meniscus. Embiid had the procedure after Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga fell on his left knee during a game on Jan. 30.
The Sixers, Indiana Pacers and Magic are all 46-35 entering Sunday's action, with the Miami Heat one game behind them. The Sixers can finish as high as fifth in the East or as low as eighth, depending on Sunday's results.
