Joel Embiid available against Brooklyn despite injured knee

Adrian Wojnarowski: Joel Embiid (knee) will play vs. Nets tonight, source tells ESPN.
Source: Twitter @wojespn

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Serena Winters @SerenaWinters
Joel Embiid to @CassidyHubbarth about the Ben Simmons situation uniting the #Sixers as a team: “As a team, we got closer, especially me, it brought up the point of me trying to become a way better leader than I was in the past & trying to keep the team together.” – 7:48 PM

Noah Levick @NoahLevick
Joel Embiid speaks to Sixers fans pregame, says Ben Simmons is “still our brother”: pic.twitter.com/XJ5L8nfVbz – 7:47 PM

Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
Wasn’t positive with all the other noise going on in here but I believe Joel Embiid finished off the season opening intro by thanking the crowd in part for continuing to support the team and Ben Simmons “because he’s still our brother.” – 7:46 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Joel Embiid addresses the fans pregame and he ends it off with “support our teammate, Ben because he’s still our brother” #Sixers pic.twitter.com/ue4WkTGKoG – 7:46 PM

Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Joel Embiid, in a pregame speech before Nets-Sixers, tells 76ers fans to continue supporting the team “and Ben Simmons, because he’s still our brother.” – 7:46 PM

Justin Grasso @JGrasso_
Joel Embiid addresses the crowd before tonight’s game and asks #Sixers fans to support Ben Simmons – 7:46 PM

Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers center Joel Embiid addressing fans at center court: ‘What’s up, guys? It’s good to have you back … A lot has happened the last few months.’ Asks them to support ‘our teammate Ben – he’s still our brother.’ – 7:45 PM

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Embiid calls for the crowd to continue supporting Simmons during pre-game address to the crowd. “He’s still our brother” – 7:45 PM

Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
On ESPN just now Joel Embiid said when he looked around the arena during Wednesday’s opener at Smoothie King Center “it would be hard to play at a place like that”, because he feeds off the energy in Philly. – 7:42 PM

Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
Don’t be surprised if Joel Embiid, who is starting, addresses #Sixers fans before tonight’s home opener. – 7:34 PM

Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Greetings from Wells Fargo Center. Nets-Sixers tip in 20. Brooklyn owner Joe Tsai is in the house. Joel Embiid is a go for Philly and we’ll see how the Nets’ big lineup to start handles the Sixers’ center. Updates to follow. – 7:14 PM

Noah Levick @NoahLevick
Starters for Sixers-Nets. Joel Embiid is a go: pic.twitter.com/GsH1KgovBO – 7:09 PM

Ajayi Browne @ajayibrowne
It has been confirmed that Joel Embiid will play and start for the Sixers according to Woj. – 7:08 PM

Justin Grasso @JGrasso_
Joel Embiid is in tonight #Sixers – 7:08 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Joel Embiid will play tonight #Sixers – 7:07 PM

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Joel Embiid (knee) will play vs. Nets tonight, source tells ESPN. – 7:07 PM

Noah Levick @NoahLevick
Joel Embiid just started his pregame workout: pic.twitter.com/rggPRLYM8G – 6:51 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Joel Embiid just took the court for warmups. He’s got no visible wrap on his right knee, which he is listed as questionable for tonight’s game with knee soreness. pic.twitter.com/ZLNGy3DCk9 – 6:51 PM

Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
Doc Rivers on Joel Embiid’s status tonight after getting knee to knee contact in the first quarter the other night: “Don’t know yet. He didn’t do a lot this morning but towards the end, I thought he started doing more. Honestly, I’ll put it at 50/50.” – 6:04 PM

Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers: ‘I don’t know’ if Joel Embiid will play tonight. Puts it at 50-50. – 5:47 PM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Doc Rivers says Joel Embiid didn’t do much at shootaround this morning and he will go through a pregame workout to determine his status for tonight. Rivers says he’s “50/50”. #Sixers – 5:47 PM

Noah Levick @NoahLevick
Doc Rivers: Joel Embiid (right knee soreness) is 50-50 to play tonight. He’ll go through a workout pregame. – 5:47 PM

Justin Grasso @JGrasso_
Doc Rivers isn’t sure if Joel Embiid is good to go yet or not. Says Embiid is 50/50 to play tonight #Sixers – 5:47 PM

Tony Mejia @MejiaDinero
Joel Embiid probably plays tonight but I’d be cautious if I were the 76ers. That’s one of the reasons I liked the Nets to rebound. My thoughts on the @WagerTalk NBA show, which wrapped up a productive week: pic.twitter.com/c7Ckacuwne – 5:04 PM

Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
Will be interesting to see if Maxey starts defending Harden tonight, should #Nets go big as in opener (Harden, Joe Harris, Durant, Claxton, Griffin). Figure Curry on J Harris in that scenario. #Sixers star Joel Embiid will be a huge problem for Brooklyn at other end. – 4:45 PM

Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Joel Embiid asked 76ers co-star Ben Simmons the question: Why do you want a trade? sportando.basketball/en/joel-embiid… – 2:26 PM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Sources say Joel Embiid today asked 76ers co-star Ben Simmons the question: Why do you want a trade? Simmons responded that he isn’t feeling mentally himself and needs time to get right. Details: pic.twitter.com/oevLl2hXB2 – 2:18 PM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Embiid attempting free throws pic.twitter.com/ehukRtaFtq – 11:47 AM

Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Joel Embiid has his knee wrapped up as he goes through a post shootaround workout #Sixers pic.twitter.com/wGU7sP9gjB – 11:43 AM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Joel Embiid is shooting free throws with a wrap on his right knee. Embiid is questionable for tonight’s game against the Nets with right knee soreness. – 11:42 AM

Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Multiple sources confirmed that Ben Simmons addressed Doc Rivers, Joel Embiid and the entire 76ers team this morning, saying he’s not mentally ready to play and needs time. – 11:11 AM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Sources: Ben Simmons spoke to Doc Rivers, Joel Embiid and entire 76ers team today and accepted everyone needs to take responsibility, including himself — but Simmons informed them all that he’s not mentally ready to play yet and needs time. – 10:54 AM

Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA story: The embattled Ben Simmons is listed as doubtful for the #Sixers’ home opener tonight vs. the #Nets, while Joel Embiid (knee) is questionable: https://t.co/tZHfMaCdr4 pic.twitter.com/MQX0vksw8C – 6:40 AM

Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA story: In addition to Ben Simmons being doubtful for the #Sixers‘ home opener, franchise big man Joel Embiid is questionable with a sore knee: bit.ly/2Z9vZ9L pic.twitter.com/aFGqJTNwN0 – 9:30 PM

More on this storyline

Tim Bontemps: Doc Rivers says Joel Embiid is “50-50” to play tonight. Said he did a little bit more by the end of shootaround, but he got hit at the beginning of Wednesday’s game and they are being careful with it. -via Twitter @TimBontemps / October 22, 2021

Ajayi Browne: James Harden also says, “I kind of blame myself for last year — Usually I’m very very durable.” -via Twitter @ajayibrowne / September 27, 2021

Joel Embiid, 76ers (torn meniscus, knee): Embiid was hampered by the injury during Philly’s second-round seven-game series loss to the Hawks, but gutted it out to average 30.4 points and 12.7 rebounds against Atlanta. After a summer of rehab and rest, Embiid is a “full go,” per a league source, and will have a normal preseason load. -via The Athletic / September 23, 2021