Philadelphia took advantage of its opportunities to rest players down
the stretch, but the third-seeded 76ers still have some serious health
concerns entering Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round matchup with
the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. After sitting out five of the
final seven games of the regular season to rest his balky knee, Sixers
All-Star center Joel Embiid may need to sit out the series opener,
according to general manager Elton Brand.Watch

NOW: http://online-tvcast.com/nba/

was just 8-10 without Embiid during the regular season, but the Nets
are refusing to dwell on any potential advantages entering the series.
"No, no. I'm afraid it's what you did with your little brother. 'Ah, my
knee hurts,' and then, the guy gets 50 on you," Brooklyn coach Kenny
Atkinson told reporters when asked if he is preparing for a game without
Embiid. "If he's out there, we'll play it normal. We won't go at him
any more. This is the playoffs, I expect him to play. I expect him to be
full force. If he doesn't play, we'll make adjustments." The Nets have
already been in playoff mode, clinching a postseason spot for the first
time in four years in their second-to-last game and then locking down
the sixth seed with a win over Miami on the final day of the regular
season. Embiid averaged 30 points and 14.3 rebounds in four meetings
with Brooklyn this season as the teams split four matchups.TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, WWOR-TV (Brooklyn), NBCS PhiladelphiaWhen: 2:30 PM ET, Saturday, April 13, 2019Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaABOUT
THE NETS (42-40): Brooklyn surged to its first winning season since
2013-14 largely on the back of All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell, who
posted career highs in scoring (21.1 points per game) and assists (7.0),
bumping those numbers to 23.3 and 7.7, respectively, after the All-Star
break. He had six straight 20-point games down the stretch and fellow
guard Caris LeVert averaged 17.3 while making 5-of-9 3-pointers during
the team's three-game winning streak to finish the regular season.
Starters Joe Harris (toe) and DeMarre Carroll (wrist) both sat out the
win over the Heat on Wednesday but Atkinson told reporters he expects
them to be ready for Game 1.ABOUT THE 76ERS (51-31):
Philadelphia made big moves during the regular season to build a
formidable unit around Embiid, acquiring standouts Tobias Harris and
Jimmy Butler, but the team's optimal starting five has been on the court
together just 10 times. "To say we are all prepared and ready go to
isn't true,” coach Brett Brown told reporters after a 125-109 win over
Chicago on Wednesday to end the regular season. "The good news is we
have talent. We are hoping to jump into the playoffs, find the wave,
ride the current, and play good basketball. But to suggest we have had a
season's worth of preparation is really just factually wrong." Shooting
guard JJ Redick averaged 27 points over his last four games but sat out
the final two contests of the regular season with back and quadriceps
issues.BUZZER BEATERS1. The teams last met in the
playoffs in 1984, when the New Jersey Nets scored a first-round upset
over the Sixers, who were the defending NBA champs.2. Butler
(back) played just 16 minutes over the final four games and was held to
nine points on 3-of-10 shooting in the 123-110 win over Brooklyn on
March 28.3. The winning team scored at least 122 points in all four meetings during the regular season.