Joel Embiid
Down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Miami Heat, the Philadelphia 76ers have some promising news. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Joel Embiid has cleared the NBA’s concussion protocol and will return for Game 3 of the series.
Embiid suffered a facial fracture and concussion in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs when he took an elbow to the head.
Tip-off takes place Friday at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and will be on ESPN.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors
Meanwhile we’ve got drama in the Western Conference Semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors. Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks was ejected from Tuesday’s Game 2 match-up, after a flagrant foul that fractured Gary Payton II’s elbow. Brooks has been suspended for Game 3.
Meanwhile on the Warriors side, Draymond Green was ejected from the first game of the series when he hit Brandon Clarke in the head and pulled his jersey. They frown on that.
In Game 2, Green suffered a laceration in his right eye and was booed by Grizzlies fans. That’s a bad look for the fans, but then Green flipped them off and has been fined $25,000 by the league.
The series is tied 1-1, with Game 3 taking place at Chase Center on Saturday at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT on ABC.
And In the Rest of the NBA Semifinals
Western Conference
The Phoenix Suns have a 2-0 series lead over the Dallas Mavericks, with the series moving to Dallas Friday night. With Dallas star Luka Doncic two weeks removed from his return from a calf injury, the Mavericks are going to have to find a way to keep his legs fresh (literally and figuratively) if they have any chance at a comeback. Tip-off is at 9:30 pm ET/6:30 pm PT on ESPN.
Eastern Conference
Over in the East, the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks are tied at 1-1. The Celtics may get Marcus Smart, who was out for Game 2 after reaggravating a right quad contusion, back for Saturday’s Game 3. He will be listed as probable. Tip-off from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is at 3:30 pm ET/12:30 pm PT on ABC.
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Casey DeSmith
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a 1-1 series tie with the New York Rangers in Round 1 of the NHL playoffs. However, they will be without goalie Casey DeSmith for the rest of their run.
DeSmith left Game 1’s second overtime with a core injury and had surgery to repair it on Friday morning. He is out for the remainder of the playoffs. Pittsburgh is already without All-Star goalie Tristan Jarry, so Louis Domingue will be the man at the goal.
Game 3 is Saturday at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The game is on TNT.
NHL Playoffs Schedule
Friday, May 6:
- Carolina Panthers @ Boston Bruins, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT on TNT
- Toronto Maple Leafs @ Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT on TBS
- Minnesota Wild @ St. Louis Blues, 9:30 pm ET/6:30 pm PT on TNT
- Edmonton Oilers @ Los Angeles Kings, 10 pm ET/7 pm PT on TBS
Saturday, May 7
- Florida Panthers @ Washington Capitals, 1 pm ET/10 am PT on ESPN
- Colorado Avalanche @ Nashville Predators, 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT on TNT
- New York Rangers @ Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT pm TNT
- Calgary Flames @ Dallas Stars, 9:30 pm ET/6:30 pm PT on TNT