Sixers’ Joel Embiid starts against the Celtics in Game 2

The newly-crowned NBA MVP missed Game 1 with a right knee sprain.

Sixers center Joel Embiid goes through shootaround before Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal playoffs against Boston on Wednesday.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer

Published May 3, 2023, 6:29 p.m. ET

BOSTON — Joel Embiid returned Wednesday to face the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The 76ers center’s return comes one day after participating in running drills since spraining his right lateral collateral ligament on April 20 in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets. The newly-minted NBA MVP was unavailable to play April 22 in Game 4 when the Sixers closed out a sweep of the Nets. He also sat out Monday’s Game 1 victory over the Celtics.

Up until Tuesday, his on-court activity only consisted of light shooting drills. Embiid did participate in Wednesday morning’s shootaround.

The Sixers have a 1-0 series lead.

Embiid won a second straight scoring title by averaging 33.1 points and was eighth in rebounds (10.2) and seventh in blocks (1.7). He was also named Eastern Conference player of the month three times.

In this season’s four regular-season meetings vs. Boston, Embiid averaged 36.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks.