UPDATED: 10:20 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Joel Embiid has been informed by the Sixers' staff he is available to play Monday in his first career back-to-back. Now, he has to wait and see how he feels after Sunday’s game against the Thunder if he will play in Milwaukee.
“I feel like that’s the missing part of my NBA career,” Embiid said prior to the game. “If I get the chance, if they clear me for tomorrow, I’ll be really happy.”
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SIGN UP HERE It appears likely Embiid will play Monday in Milwaukee after the Sixers' 122-112 loss Sunday to the Thunder (see observations). Embiid had 27 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes Sunday night.
"I don’t know but hopefully I’ll play," Embiid said after Sunday's loss. "I feel like I've done the right things and if these guys want to win, I feel like I should play and I'm ready to play.
"Although we lost, I feel that we got a great momentum so if these guys want to go to the playoffs and win, I'm sure the team can win without me. But I feel like we're also better with me so I feel like they should let me play."
Embiid has never played in both games of a back-to-back. The Sixers have monitored him closely following years of injuries.
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The Sixers' big man had to go through a certain combination of games, shootarounds and practices, including workouts with low-minute players on non-practice days, in recent weeks in order to be made available.
Before the game, Embiid said he thinks he's ready for back-to-backs and he was told he was available for Monday depending on how he felt after the Thunder game.
"We shall see what goes on tomorrow," Embiid said after Sunday's game. "I don't make the decision. I'm just here for the ride, I guess."
The Sixers are a drastically different team when Embiid plays. They are 2-7 without him.