Joel Embiid Reacts to 76ers' Game 2 Win Over Celtics

The Philadelphia 76ers were blown out 123–91 in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Boston Celtics on Sunday, shooting an abysmal 4-for-23 from beyond the arc.

Game 2 on Tuesday told a completely different story. Despite several runs by Boston to keep things close, Philadelphia never wavered, securing a 111–97 victory to even the series at one game apiece heading back home.

The 76ers shot an impressive 19-for-39 from three-point range, compared to Boston's 13-for-50, fueled by strong performances from Tyrese Maxey, who recorded 29 points, nine assists, and four rebounds, and rookie V. J. Edgecombe, who added 30 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists.

Following the win, Philadelphia received an immediate reaction from superstar center Joel Embiid, who remains sidelined while recovering from an appendectomy he underwent on April 9.

Embiid posted a simple yet telling message on X: "LFG," short for "Let's [expletive] go."

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Embiid's return remains uncertain, as recovery from an appendectomy can often take several weeks. For the 76ers - who are still considered underdogs in the series - the longer they can extend it, the better their chances of potentially getting him back for Game 6 or 7.

He has already begun a strength and conditioning program, a positive sign that his recovery is trending in the right direction. However, until he is able to participate in full 5-on-5 contact, he is expected to remain sidelined.

When Embiid is healthy and on the floor, he's one of the best players in the NBA. The challenge, however, has been staying available. Several of his injuries - including the recent emergency appendectomy - have been completely out of his control.

That said, durability has been a recurring issue. Over the past three seasons, Embiid has not appeared in 40 games in any of them, and he has never reached the 70-game mark in a single season.

Injuries have unfortunately sidelined significant portions of what has otherwise been a remarkable career, highlighted by an MVP award, seven All-Star selections, five All-NBA honors, two scoring titles, and three All-Defensive team nods.

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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 11:09 PM.