Report: 76ers optimistic Embiid could return for Game 3 or 4

The Philadelphia 76ers are optimistic that star Joel Embiid can return from his mild concussion and orbital fracture for Game 3 or 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Miami Heat, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Embiid must clear concussion protocols in order to play. The Cameroonian won't travel with the team for Games 1 and 2 in Miami and is getting his orbital fracture examined by a doctor midweek, Wojnarowski reports.

The 76ers' MVP candidate suffered the injury when taking an inadvertent elbow from Pascal Siakam during Game 6 of the 76ers' first-round series against the Toronto Raptors. The incident occurred late in the fourth quarter with Philly holding a comfortable 29-point lead. Head coach Doc Rivers recently justified his decision and said he planned on taking the big man out on the next possession.

With Embiid out, Philadelphia will rely more heavily on Paul Reed to fill frontcourt minutes. The 76ers' thin frontline also includes veterans DeAndre Jordan and Paul Millsap, who both played sparingly in the first round.

Game 1 gets underway Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET at FTX Arena. The full series schedule can be viewed below.