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Joel Embiid undergoes successful appendectomy surgery in Texas, Sixers say

By
Tom Dougherty
Digital Content Producer, CBS Philadelphia
Tom Dougherty is a digital content producer for CBS Philadelphia. Before joining CBS Philadelphia, Tom covered sports for NBC Sports Philadelphia. He currently covers breaking news and sports.
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Tom Dougherty,
Tom Ignudo
Digital Content Producer, CBS Philadelphia
Tom Ignudo is a digital content producer at CBS Philadelphia. Before he joined CBS Philadelphia in 2021, Tom covered high school and college sports for the Philadelphia Inquirer. He covers breaking news, sports and more.
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Tom Ignudo

/ CBS Philadelphia

Joel Embiid was released from a Texas hospital Friday and will return to Philadelphia after undergoing appendectomy surgery, the 76ers said. The timeline for Embiid's return to basketball activities has not yet been determined, the team said.

Embiid was previously ruled out for Thursday night's game against the Houston Rockets because of an illness. A couple of hours later, the team announced Embiid was diagnosed with appendicitis and required surgery in Houston.

Appendicitis happens when the appendix gets "clogged, infected and inflamed," according to the . Surgery to remove the appendix is the standard treatment.

Appendicitis symptoms include abdominal pain that starts around the navel and then moves to the lower right side, poor appetite, nausea, sometimes vomiting and fever.

Appendectomy surgery is a "minimally invasive" operation that usually involves three small incisions, surgeon Dr. Michael Winter at Virtua Health said. Winter was not involved in Embiid's care.

Embiid has played in 38 games this season, averaging 26.9 points and 3.9 assists.

Embiid's appendicitis diagnosis comes as the Sixers make a playoff push with three games left in the regular season.

The Sixers are currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, which would put them in the NBA play-in tournament. 

The Sixers are two gams back of the No. 6 seed Atlanta Hawks. Philadelphia is also a back of the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic. 

Without Embiid, the Sixers are likely looking at a spot in the play-in tournament. Depending on where they finish, that could mean potentially playing two play-in games to make the playoffs.

The Sixers have two games left in the regular season — Friday night at the Indiana Pacers and Sunday at home against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The appendicitis diagnosis is also the latest medical hurdle Embiid will need to overcome in his career. Over the years, he's dealt with meniscus injuries, multiple orbital bone fractures, Bell's palsy and much more.

Stephanie Stahl contributed to this report.

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