Sources: Sixers’ Joel Embiid will return shortly, as early as Tuesday vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder

All signs point to Joel Embiid returning to the 76ers this week from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Sources had said the reigning MVP could return as early as Tuesday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center. However, he was ruled out of that matchup, according to Monday’s 1:30 p.m. injury report.

But Embiid practiced with the team during last weekend’s road trip to Cleveland and Toronto to prepare to return against the Thunder. A source said the Sixers spent some time on a game plan for Oklahoma City with Embiid during Friday’s shootaround before the Cavaliers game. They also did the same during Saturday’s practice, one day before facing the Raptors. Embiid looked great at practice while dominating teammates, sources add.

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However, it appears the All-Star center’s return to game action will have to wait a couple of days — though his status for Tuesday’s game could change before tipoff.

Embiid, 30, has been out since he suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee against the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 30. The reigning MVP had surgery Feb. 6.

The Sixers originally said Embiid was on pace to return in the first or second week of April. The timeline to return from an injury like Embiid’s typically is four to six weeks. However, the team gave him an eight-to-10-week timeline.

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After Tuesday, the Sixers will embark on a three-game road trip to face the Miami Heat (Thursday), the Memphis Grizzlies (Saturday), and San Antonio Spurs (Sunday). Then, they’ll conclude the season with a three-game homestand vs. the Detroit Pistons (April 9), the Orlando Magic (April 12), and the Brooklyn Nets (April 14).

The Sixers (40-35) are in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings with seven games remaining. They’re 1½ games behind the seventh-place Heat and two games behind the sixth-place Indiana Pacers. The Sixers are on pace to participate in the play-in tournament on April 16-19 for a chance to compete in the playoffs.

The top six conference finishers qualify for the postseason. The teams that finish seventh, eighth, ninth, and 10th will compete in the play-in tourney for the two remaining playoff spots.

In 34 games this season, Embiid has averaged 35.3 points along with 11.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and a career-best 5.7 assists in 34 minutes.

The Sixers are 26-8 in games Embiid has played this season. They are 14-27 without him. Twenty-nine of the 41 games the 7-foot-2, 280-pounder has missed this season came after he suffered the knee injury.

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The day before Embiid was hurt (Jan. 29), the Sixers were in third place with a 29-16 record. They dropped to fifth in the standings after a loss to the Warriors and continued sliding down the standings while losing 18 of the 29 games since.

Before his injury, Embiid was the overwhelming favorite to win a second straight MVP award. However, the seven-time All-Star won’t get the opportunity. According to the collective bargaining agreement, players are required to participate in a minimum of 65 games to be eligible for the NBA’s regular-season awards.

Tyrese Maxey (left hip tightness) is listed as questionable against the Thunder after missing Sunday’s game. Meanwhile, Robert Covington (left knee bone bruise) and De’Anthony Melton (spine) will remain sidelined.