Game 5 of the Celtics-Hawks series will determine the Sixers’ Round 2 schedule
The Sixers have the luxury of waiting and watching because they were the first NBA playoff club to get to the second round.
They received a formal picture of what might happen next on Sunday night.
The NBA offered two alternatives for the Sixers in Round 2 after the Celtics won Game 4 in Atlanta to lead the Hawks 3-1 in the series.
- Game 1: April 29, Saturday
- Game 2: May 1st, Monday
- Game 3: on May 5 on Friday
- Game 4: May 7th, Sunday
- Game 5: May 9th, Tuesday
- Game 6: May 11th, Thursday
- Game 7: May 14th, Sunday
The Sixers’ second-round series would be played on these dates if the Celtics-Hawks series goes six or seven games:
- Monday, May 1; Game 1; Wednesday, May 3; Game 2
- Game 3: on May 5 on Friday
- Game 4: May 7th, Sunday
- Game 5: May 9th, Tuesday
- Game 6: May 11th, Thursday
- Game 7: May 14th, Sunday
The Sixers got Sunday off after dominating the Nets. Monday’s practice is also cancelled. The Sixers would probably prefer the latter situation with Game 1 on May 1 even if it is wonderful to have a break before Round 2, especially considering MVP favorite Joel Embiid’s uncertain health.
Doc Rivers, the head coach of the Sixers, indicated on Saturday that Joel Embiid’s odds of recovering from his right knee sprain in time to play in the second round were “probably 50 percent, at best.”
Embiid scored 52 points on 20-for-25 shooting against the Celtics’ depleted roster in the Sixers’ lone victory against Boston during the regular season.
After defeating Brooklyn in Game 4, James Harden stated, “Obviously, today was big for us so we can get big fella healthy.” That is the top priority. then simply ensuring that each of our skill sets continues to function properly. We’ll have to wait and decide who we play next, I suppose. For us, I believe the most important thing is to make sure we’re all healthy because both teams would be difficult.
