Nurse: Embiid likely to return in regular season

Joel Embiid's return to the Philadelphia 76ers could be inching closer.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Wednesday that he is optimistic the reigning MVP will be back in the lineup before the end of the regular season.

"I think there's a very good likelihood that he will return before the play-in, playoff," Nurse said, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

Embiid hasn't appeared in a game since Jan. 30 when Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga fell on his leg. Embiid underwent surgery on the lateral meniscus in his left knee Feb. 6.

"I'm told it is not a question of if, but when," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said of Embiid's return to action.

The Sixers are 10-16 in Embiid's absence and have fallen to eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, five games clear of the ninth-place Chicago Bulls.

Embiid, 30, was putting together another MVP-caliber season before the injury. The seven-time All-Star averaged 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game in 34 appearances.